Which sophomore QB has breakout 2024 between Nico Iamaleava, Jackson Arnold, Avery Johnson

Several sophomore quarterbacks will get their shot as full-time starters in the 2024 season after showing some promising flashes as true freshmen last year. Most notably Tennessee‘s Nico Iamaleava, Oklahoma‘s Jackson Arnold, and Kansas State‘s Avery Johnson.

On3’s Andy Staples and Jesse Simonton spoke about all three of the young guns, with Staples asking Simonton which one he’s most excited to see this upcoming season as a starter.

“I think it’s hard not to say Nico just because there has been so much mania around his recruitment,” Simonton said. “He was the first big NIL, at least that as know of, recipient and I think we saw two years ago with Hendon Hooker the possibility of Tennessee and what that program’s capable of if you have one of these fighter pilots at quarterback. So is Nico that? He certainly, I think of these guys, has tremendous pressure on his shoulders, the expectations are sky high for him so I think Nico would be number one.”

Iamaleava was the highest-ranked high school recruit of the group, ranked the No. 3 quarterback and the No. 6 overall player in the country for the 2023 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

The former five-star prospect showed flashes of what he’s capable of in his four-game appearances last season. But his skillset was on full display in his first career start in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl versus one of the nation’s top defenses. Throwing for 151 yards and a touchdown pass along with 27 rushing yards and three scores on the ground against Iowa to earn MVP honors for the game.

“I think after that it’s notable that Oklahoma made that decision, and I think it was absolutely the correct one. But they made the decision that hey, we have a really nice guy in Dillion Gabriel, a guy who’s been very productive for us for two years,” Simonton explained. “But let’s hand the keys to someone that has maybe even higher upside, that’s engine revs just a little bit louder, a little bit faster and that’s what five-star Jackson Arnold could provide. Will he? I don’t know, we kind of saw the ups and downs in his first start in that bowl game.”

Arnold was ranked just one spot behind Iamaleava in On3’s high school quarterback rankings for the 2023 recruiting class. Like Iamaleava, Arnold also made his first career start during the Sooners’ bowl game, taking on Arizona in the Valero Alamo Bowl. But unfortunately, his showing was not as strong, throwing for 361 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions in a loss to the Wildcats.

Regardless, Oklahoma is still rolling with Arnold despite having a proven veteran in-house previously. A very similar situation which transpired in Manhattan between Will Howard and Avery Johnson, with Johnson displaying tremendous potential for the Wildcats throughout the season and in their bowl game.

“Avery Johnson, I’m telling you, if you’ve not seen him play yet this guy is electric when he’s running the ball. But he’s also got a good arm, we need to see more of the arm because that’s not what they’ve really asked him to do yet,” Staples said. “But in that offense where he is going to be asked to run quite a bit, I’m telling you, the Lamar Jackson comparison’s a little premature, but I don’t think we’ve seen a quarterback with a decent arm that’s been this fast since Lamar Jackson.”

Johnson made some serious noise after rushing for five touchdowns versus Texas Tech last season. But showed that he’s more than ready to take the reins in his first start versus NC State in the Pop Tarts Bowl, leading a 15-play, 72-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to seal the 28-19 win after racking up 249 total yards and three total touchdowns on the evening.

Simonton also honorably mentioned Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles as a sophomore to watch after he threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 79 yards and three scores as a true freshman at Oregon State. Following head coach Jonathan Smith to East Lansing where he’ll likely be the Spartans’ starter and yet another notable sophomore QB to keep an eye on ahead of the 2024 season.