Posted by Marvin West | May 5, 2025 | westwords |
Can you believe college academics is getting in the way of college athletics
That wasn’t supposed to happen in this new era of everything goes
NCAA eligibility was thought to be incidental
is approaching his fifth year as a student-athlete
The bad part is he is trapped between a scholastic rock and a hard place
He is said to be in the bustling village of Westwood
he is taking online classes to finish communications degree requirements in Boone
Buried in NCAA rules not yet overturned by the courts are requirements to ensure that transferring athletes meet specific academic benchmarks
student-athletes must have left their previous school while eligible and in good standing (no IOUs or parking tickets)
meeting progress-toward-degree requirements and otherwise upholding academic integrity
We fear that means Joey cannot meet roll-call for his psychology class
exit right and catch a flight to his new home
“NCAA members continue to prioritize long-term academic success for college athletes who transfer
while supporting their opportunity to compete immediately,” said Lynda Tealer
deputy athletics director at Florida and chair of the NCAA council on going to school
The current quarter at UCLA runs until June
UT coaches have said they hope to have Joey on the UT campus for workouts by late May
That can only mean the Vols are looking for a shortcut
He has a long way to go and a short time to get there
He has some serious catching-up to do just to compete with second-year Vol Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre for the keys to the kingdom
is miles behind Aguilar in experience but 15 months ahead in Josh Heupel’s offense
the coach also likes the potential he sees in Joey
He might be able to pilot the up-tempo offense Hendon Hooker ran in 2022
Observers say Aguilar is a tough dude who can run and throw effectively
Joey and the Mountaineers pushed the Tar Heels to double overtime
We’ll talk later about what happened after that
be reminded that Joey Aguilar won Sun Belt Conference honors and UCLA paid him to move back to the west bank as potential starter
Joey can memorize the playbook and watch video of all the routes receivers are supposed to run
I suppose he can later learn strengths and weaknesses of teammates and earn enough respect to become a leader
There is a long list of adjustments for newcomers to be competitive
We’ll all know by mid-August who is the quarterback
Heupel has shown he can win with any QB model
It helps if the chosen one can throw accurately on the move
The coach does best (the offense works best) with quarterbacks who can correctly read the field
make quick decisions and deliver a catchable pass in a favorable direction
Joe Milton had a terrific arm but was not great at any of that other stuff
This is my third time to say this: He was never worth $4 million
That the Vols wouldn’t meet his dad’s demands is why he is gone
Dad talk about correcting offensive deficiencies was a fine idea – if it started with Nico’s
It was supposedly an adjusted offshoot of what Art Briles created at Baylor and of Mike Leach’s “Air Raid” that Josh learned at Oklahoma in 1999
The passing game was always linked to a good running attack – just in case
the smart coach of the Vols slowed the pace to mask Milton and Iamaleava limitations and accommodate what they could do best
There is no proof that Aguilar or Merklinger could challenge the speed of light but the possibility creates a spark of excitement – maybe enough to offset the current confusion
Free advice: Four months out from the Syracuse game
This is subject to change – after we see Aguilar
Marvin West welcomes comments or questions from readers. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com
A very informative (seriously) insight about academics and athletics
It is hard to fathom athletes can handle the academic side when they move between four-five schools…and still play
it was reported Nico had to finish UT before he could start UCLA stardom
It has been widely reported that the Sanders fallen star had never attended an in-class class; all on line
If that is the best way education can be accomplished
it seems a colossal waste of bricks and mortar
may the best man win…and help us win
West; borrowing a line from Jerry Reed’s “East Bound & Down” from the Burt Reynolds movie “Smoky and the Bandit”
Hopefully the UT Offense will be able to do “What they say can’t be done” with Joey at the controls
Marvin; you know you did good when I don’t miss anything throughout the first read
Just hoping we can see the offense Hendon ran once again
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New Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar will arrive on campus “relatively quickly,” according to coach Josh Heupel
Then Aguilar will dive into a long checklist of tasks to hopefully transform from a UCLA transfer to potentially the Vols’ starting quarterback
Understand the communication and play calls
But then fundamentals and technique,” said Heupel
He’ll start developing timing with the wide receivers
Then growing and starting to build a connection with teammates and garnering respect from those guys.”
Aguilar committed to Tennessee on April 21
The Vols are tentatively scheduled to start preseason practice on July 30
That’s 100 days for Aguilar to prepare to be Tennessee’s quarterback in the 2025 season
Aguilar has been taking online classes at Appalachian State to graduate from there in May
He can receive a waiver to drop his in-person classes at UCLA
which follows a quarters academic calendar that ends June 13
That allows Aguilar to move to Knoxville once he earns his Appalachian State degree
Commencement ceremonies are May 9-10 in Boone
he can’t participate in official UT team activities
But that’s why UT hopes he can move to Knoxville in mid-to-late May
Aguilar is learning a fourth offense in 28 months
he transferred from Diablo Valley Community College to Appalachian State
he enrolled at UCLA in January 2025 and crammed that playbook for spring practice
He executed it well in spring practice because he was set to start for the Bruins
Now Aguilar must flush some of that knowledge and replace it with UT’s version of the same checklist
Playbooks and game films are shared digitally to help Aguilar catch up
Heupel and offensive coordinator/quarterback coach Joey Halzle have been meeting with Aguilar via Zoom calls
It’s not as effective as in-person meetings
but it’s better than learning via printed playbooks and audio-only phone calls
UT football starts its summer program on June 1
players can participate in team activities for eight hours each week until preseason practice begins
approved by the UT compliance office and attended by coaches
strength training and conditioning in a team setting and positional film study with coaches
The on-field work with coaches is skill development
and the workout can’t include 11-on-11 football
This is when Halzle will utilize every minute with Aguilar for quarterback drills and going through hands-on details of the offense
Players organize practices without coaches throughout the summer
They’re not mandatory because team staff members are not present and have nothing to do with scheduling the workouts
But those player-led practices are arguably more important to Aguilar than coach-led workouts
Every rep of those player-led practices will help Aguilar
He’ll be able to take baby steps in the offense
develop chemistry with receivers and work through mistakes that he would have made in spring practice
The interesting evolution could be Aguilar’s leadership
especially in player-led practices beyond the coaches’ purview
Aguilar will compete to be the starting quarterback
which means he’d normally lead those workouts
But he’s also a new player learning a new system and working out in unfamiliar facilities
It’s reasonable to expect that Aguilar will be a follower rather than a leader through most of the summer
Transitioning toward a leadership role will be a difficult challenge in a small period of time
The best way to accelerate that process is for Aguilar to develop friendships with teammates
hoping that rapport translates to the field
Aguilar doesn’t have veteran quarterbacks or ample time to aid him
Aguilar needs Jake Merklinger’s helpPlayers can watch as much film as they want
The most productive way is with teammates at the same position
Aguilar’s greatest assets will be redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre
has gone through about 140 practices at UT in the past year
the greater the chances that Aguilar will win the starting job over him
Aguilar will sit in a stool surrounded by reporters 99 days after he committed to Tennessee
He’ll be asked about his grasp of the offense
the quarterback competition ahead and whether he’s ready for SEC football
But the real answers will reveal themselves in the days after that
NO GM AT TENNESSEE: Why Josh Heupel doesn't have a general manager
Preseason practice is tentatively scheduled to start July 30
but it’ll seem like it flies by for Aguilar
Aguilar will start a new checklist toward Tennessee’s 2025 season opener against Syracuse on Aug
But he doesn’t need to get ahead of himself
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe
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With Tennessee searching for a veteran quarterback in the wake of Nico Iamaleava’s departure from the program in April, head coach Josh Heupel landed on former Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar out of the transfer portal
Aguilar played his 2023 and 2024 seasons with the Mountaineers and transferred to UCLA this past December
But with Iamaleava making the move to the Bruins in April
Aguilar decided to look elsewhere for his final collegiate season despite having gone through spring camp with UCLA
Tennessee and Aguilar met in the middle, and the transfer quarterback officially announced his commitment to the Volunteers last Tuesday
compete at the highest level and build something special with my coaches and teammates,” Aguilar posted in a lengthy social media message
In the days following Aguilar’s commitment
the Tennessee coaching staff and prominent members of Tennessee Athletics
such as AD Danny White and Voice of the Vols Mike White
went on the three-day Big Orange Caravan tour on Tuesday
While speaking to the media at the Memphis stop
Heupel gave his thoughts on what the Vols are getting with Aguilar at quarterback
he has starts,” Heupel said via WATE’s Reece Van Haaften on X
He’s got the ability to throw the ball vertically
He’s accurate and on time in the intermediate passing game
(He) has the ability to use his feet to extend plays
but you can use him in the quarterback run game
“He has the ability to throw the ball vertically. He’s accurate and on time in the intermediate passing game. (He) has the ability to use his feet to extend plays, but you can use him in the quarterback run game, too.” #Vols pic.twitter.com/DiZGMa0tDx
— Reece Van Haaften (@Reece_VH) April 30, 2025
Heupel didn’t need too many words to say a good amount in one short response
Heupel’s initial comment on the number of starts that Aguilar has is key because it confirms what we figured (and what was reported) with Tennessee’s interests in the transfer portal
Tennessee was left with two quarterbacks in rising redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and rising true freshman George MacIntyre
Merklinger had just nine passing attempts during his first season in Knoxville
Aguilar’s arrival in Knoxville won’t guarantee him a starting job as he’ll battle with Merklinger and MacIntyre this fall
But he does give Tennessee some much-needed veteran experience in a very young QB room
Heupel is correct; Aguilar started 24 games in two seasons at App State
the California native passed for 6,760 yards while throwing 56 touchdowns to 24 interceptions
but his numbers did take a hit from 2023 to 2024
Perhaps being in a room with QB coach Joey Halzle and Heupel will help Aguilar return to his 2023 form
Heupel has always been selective with his words to the media
but it isn’t surprising to see him comment on the deep and intermediate passing game
considering it was a big talking point during spring camp
Tennessee wants to be able to hit more big plays this fall
“The main thing we took away was we left a lot out there on the field,” Joey Halzle said this spring about Tennessee’s self-scouting from the 2024 season
“We had a lot of opportunities to go make big plays and for whatever reason – from us on the sideline to the guys on the field – that didn’t fall that way
That’s a big part of what we’ve talked about is hitting those big crossing rounds at a high clip.”
being able to extend plays is a standard evolution of the quarterback position at the collegiate level
Aguilar averaged 228 yards rushing per season at App State and scored five times on the ground
We’ll hear much more from Heupel as the summer rolls into training camp this fall
a quarterback battle in Knoxville will certainly have the media’s attention on Rocky Top as fans take in every practice highlight
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee Football offseason coverage
playJoey Aguilar airs it out for 64-yard touchdown pass (0:26)Joey Aguilar connects with Makai Jackson for a 64-yard touchdown pass
Aguilar transferred from Appalachian State to UCLA during the winter portal and was the front-runner to be the Bruins' starting quarterback this fall
But UCLA announced the signing of Iamaleava on Sunday
and Aguilar entered the spring portal Monday
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said on April 12 when announcing the program was moving forward without Iamaleava that the Vols would add another quarterback in the spring portal
220-pound senior has one year of eligibility remaining after passing for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns the past two seasons at Appalachian State
started his career at Diablo Valley Community College
The deal that Aguilar is finalizing to go to Tennessee is similar financially to the deal that he previously had at UCLA
He had $1.2 million left at UCLA on his deal
and his new deal at Tennessee is close to that
He'd also already made more than $200,000 in his first few months at UCLA
Tennessee's starter last season as a redshirt freshman
He skipped practice the previous Friday and didn't alert coaches or teammates
After several people around the program tried to contact him that day
Iamaleava called offensive coordinator Joey Halzle that night to inform him that he was entering the portal and didn't attend the Vols' spring game the next day
Heupel -- who said he never heard from Iamaleava -- told the team that Iamaleava would no longer be part of the program
Heupel thanked Iamaleava for his contributions to the program but added
"There's no one that's bigger than the Power T
Iamaleava's representatives were pushing to have his NIL deal increased
and On3 reported the Thursday before Iamaleava missed practice Friday that the two sides were in negotiations
Iamaleava was set to earn in the $2.4 million range this year from Tennessee
He signed his initial contract with the Spyre Sports Group
His full deal was reportedly $8 million but would have been closer to $10 million had he stayed the entire time at Tennessee
Sources told ESPN that Iamaleava's representatives wanted a deal in the $4 million range for him to stay at Tennessee for a third season
Iamaleava redshirted his first season on campus and took over the starting duties last year in helping to lead Tennessee to the College Football Playoff
He finished with 2,616 passing yards and 19 touchdowns but passed for more than 200 yards only twice in nine games against SEC opponents and Ohio State in the playoff game
Aguilar was the Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year in 2023 and started 24 games during his two years at Appalachian State
He set a school record with 4,002 yards of total offense his first season for the Mountaineers and another school record for the regular season with 33 touchdown passes
His numbers dipped some in 2024 with 3,003 passing yards and 23 touchdowns
He had a career high of 424 yards on 32 completions in a win over East Carolina
Aguilar was intercepted 14 times last season and threw 24 interceptions during his two-year career at Appalachian State
As news broke last week that UCLA was a likely destination for Iamaleava
Aguilar's representatives began reaching out to different schools to gauge interest
UCLA coach DeShaun Foster said two weeks ago that he had "full belief" in what offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri could do with Aguilar because of Sunseri's "record with one-year quarterbacks."
Neither has played a meaningful college snap
This story was updated on April 16 at 10:15 am
Jessica Rodriguez and Josué Aguilar Valle thought their anxieties were over
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) facility in Kendall
they’d just been told Aguilar's path to legal immigrant status had been approved
a Miami native and receptionist at a law firm
But then: “The USCIS officer that was interviewing us told me that me and our two–year-old son had to be escorted out," Rodriguez recalled to WLRN
our attorney came out and she told me that Josue was being detained by ICE.”
ICE are federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents — and they took Aguilar to the notorious Krome Detention Center for migrants in far west Miami-Dade County
"how they can give us such good news and then just rip it away
Finding refuge with documented migrant relatives in South Florida
in 2018 he graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School
Valerie Crespo of the Legal en USA firm in Coral Gables
points out there was one potential problem
“He had an order of deportation against him from 2018," she said
back from the days when Aguilar had been a teenager seeking asylum after the vicious maras
the criminal gangs that still rule whole swaths of Honduras
had tried to recruit him in his coastal city of Puerto Cortés
because of the seven-year-old deportation order that had yet to be executed
ICE says it does not comment on pending immigration cases
migrants with Josue’s sort of clean and productive record were rarely targeted for arrest
is the arrival of the Trump administration this year and its sweeping crusade to deport undocumented migrants
"I could understand if Josué had committed crimes or was an unemployed burden on the state or had only recently crossed the border as an adult instead of as an unaccompanied minor years ago," Crespo told WLRN
"But he's proven for more than a decade that he's a law-abiding contributor here."
So while the Trump administration had said that criminal migrants would be the priority of his mass deportation campaign
“Right now I believe they're only focused on getting the deportation numbers
rather than evaluating who really deserves being deported and who doesn’t.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem drove that priority home last week in a White House Cabinet meeting
when she suggested a greatly exaggerated number of deportations as President Trump’s goal
21 million people that need to go home," Noem told Trump
Immigration experts say Noem’s claim of 21 million undocumented migrants in the U.S
Crespo says the Trump administration’s deportation obsession means people who thought their immigration cases were still open are now more than ever at risk of being detained at status appointments like the one Aguilar went to last week
“When we were moved to another room after his I-130 was approved," Crespo recalled
referring to the process that involves undocumented migrants married to U.S
"I had advised him beforehand that this could happen
because I had seen it happen already with other clients this year.”
she is bound to counsel her clients to comply with the law
she and Aguilar were doing things the right way
by the book: Proving through the I-130 process that Aguilar was genuinely married to a U.S
citizen child; and that he’d come to the U.S
as a refugee from Honduran gang violence that
had given the country the world's highest homicide rate
“The only way that we could move forward with legalizing Josue’s case," Rodriguez said
But because of what happened to her husband
and what’s happened to so many like him since Trump took office in January
more and more migrants are now missing their interviews and court hearings — and staying underground
Crespo says she and other attorneys are noticing that immigration judges are getting exasperated as a result
“Yesterday I had a hearing and my client didn’t appear," Crespo said
'That's the 15th person today who didn't appear.' Now they’re not showing up.”
Trump and Noem discussed the administration's efforts to convince undocumented migrants to self-deport through a new app they call CBP Home
then Homeland Security will help them facilitate a legal return to the U.S
They insist this is the track undocumented migrants — especially those like Aguilar who had deportation orders in the system — should have taken and should be taking in the future
But immigration experts say that while the "self-deport" benefits idea sounds positive on the surface
few migrants at the moment will trust Trump to keep his word on it after hearing of one controversial detention after another like Aguilar's
after ICE recently deported hundreds of Venezuelans to a brutal high-security prison in El Salvador
even though most if not many were wrongly accused
Migrants see that even those with legal residence in the U.S
are being wrongly expelled to the Salvadoran lockup — like El Salvador native Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland
The Trump administration has admitted Abrego Garcia was mistakenly accused of being undocumented and having gang affiliation
But Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele this week stubbornly — critics say cruelly — refused to agree to release from the CECOT despite a U.S
Migrants are also wary after watching Trump try to cancel legal immigration pathways like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and humanitarian parole, which would effectively turn lawful migrants unlawful overnight — and eligible for his deportation dragnet
With so many migrants being detained or driven into the shadows
Undocumented migrants in the state pay an estimated $2 billion in taxes each year — and they help sustain critical sectors like agriculture
"I think this is a situation of limbo for everybody right now," said Frandley Julien
And that means not just migrants but the private sector."
Aguilar himself is a manager at a Miami Beach restaurant
he has since been moved from the Krome Detention Center to the Broward Transitional Center for migrants in Pompano Beach
Crespo has filed a stay of removal to prevent his deportation back to Honduras — and Rodriguez waits for word of his fate in their North Miami home with their toddler son
his chances of ever being able to return to the U.S
he can either return to Honduras on his own and
make what's known as an I-824 application to legalize his status; or he can make an I-485 application here in the U.S
Crespo said she's confident a judge will grant the stay of removal given Aguilar's exemplary record and family situation
she and Rodriguez know nothing is that predictable anymore
“We don’t know anything at this point," Rodriguez said
It’s an uncertain situation many more families in immigrant communities like South Florida will likely have to get used to for at least the next four years
Jessica Rodriguez reports she was informed in a phone call from another Broward inmate that her husband Josué Aguilar was moved to another migrant detention facility Tuesday night
Aguilar Named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year5/2/2025 9:45:00 AM | Women's Golf
The freshman was also named to the BIG EAST All-Conference Team
passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on April 28th
Marion was the daughter of Edward and Winifred Smith
where she grew up with her six brothers and sisters
Marion’s determination and independent spirit led her to Boston
where she worked as a professional hairdresser
Marion fostered a rich community of lifelong friendships
keen sense of style and sharp eye for fashion
Marion shared a lifelong bond with dear friend Claire Desmarais and family
and a cherished 65-year friendship with the late June Repucci
she forged a deep friendship with Christine Camillieri and family
she became fast friends with Chris Hallock
a reflection of her creativity and passion for aesthetics
Her infectious smile and dazzling crystal blue eyes left lasting impressions on all who met her
César Aguilar; her brothers Michael Smith and Gregory Smith; her sisters Anne (Smith) Goulet and Roberta (Smith) Ingraham; and her dear friend June Repucci
NH; as well as her treasured grandchildren
Naomi (Aguilar) O’Flaherty and husband Bret O’Flaherty
She also leaves behind her beloved siblings Allan and wife Janice Smith
Phillip and wife Jane Smith; sister-in-law Gail Smith; and brothers-in-law Raymond Goulet and Clint Ingraham; as well as 14 nieces and nephews
Marion was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed by all who knew her
Maine with big dreams and a sparkle in her eye
May 3rd at 11am at the Immaculate Conception Church
Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Marion’s memory
Copyright © 2025 Ogden Newspapers of New Hampshire
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His first message to the team and the fans made his intentions clear as he begins this new chapter in his career
Aguilar delivered the message with his Instagram account on Tuesday
I want to thank God for guiding me through this journey and opening doors I could not have imagined
I'm excited to announce that I'm officially committed to the University of Tennessee."
The former UCLA Bruins quarterback transferred to Tennessee after Nico Iamaleava went the other way following reported negotiations over an improved NIL contract with the Volunteers
Tennessee elected to part with Iamaleava after his missed a spring practice amid those negotiations
having previously transferred from Appalachian State
He is entering his final year of eligibility
but will face a quarterback battle at Tennessee
Joey Aguilar (4) drops to throw a pass
Jake Merklinger, who recently signed an improved contract with the Volunteers
and freshman George MacIntyre are also in the mix to succeed Iamaleava as the starter
Aguilar, who reportedly had $1.2 million left on his deal at UCLA and, per ESPN's Pete Thamel
will receive a similar amount at Tennessee
It's clear Aguilar is looking forward to the challenge of earning a starting job with Tennessee in 2025
"This journey hasn't just been mine; it's been shared with everyone who supported me -- thank you
"I'm looking forward to being part of the traditions
compete at the highest level and build something special with my teammates and coaches
"I can't wait to get to Rocky Top
I'm ready to Give My All for Tennessee."
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(WVLT) - UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar is officially coming to Rocky Top
The transfer made the announcement Tuesday
“I’m looking forward to being part of the traditions
and the legacy of winning at Tennessee,” his message to Vol fans said
ESPN’s Chris Low reported on April 21 that Aguilar had agreed to sign with Tennessee after a stint at Appalachian State
then transferring to UCLA during the winter portal
Previous Coverage: UCLA quarterback transfers to Tennessee, report says
as UT’s now controversial former quarterback
has announced he’ll be playing for UCLA next season
Previous Coverage: Nico Iamaleava announces transfer destination
Aguilar has spent the last two seasons as Appalachian State’s quarterback
leading the Mountaineers to a 9-5 season in 2023 and 5-6 in 2024
College football's quarterback carousel continues to churn in the transfer portal
who previously transferred to play for the Bruins during the offseason
He will now enter the portal looking for a place to start in his last season of eligibility
REQUIRED READING: Divorce of Tennessee and Nico Iamaleava underscores need for NCAA to have NIL buyouts
Aguilar told ESPN's Pete Thamel of his intention to enter the portal on Monday morning
Aguilar committed to UCLA back in December
and seemed poised to enter the 2025 season as the starter after transferring in from Appalachian State
had thrown for 3,000 yards in his last two seasons with the Mountaineers
and seemingly had the inside track to take over for 2024 starter Ethan Garbers
Aguilar began his career at Diablo Valley Community College in California before transferring to App State two years ago
he led the Mountaineers to a 14-11 record while throwing for 6,760 yards
56 touchdowns and 24 interceptions in two seasons
He also added 456 yards and five touchdowns on the ground
Following Iamaleava’s commitment to UCLA, the Bruins had nine quarterbacks on their roster
before Aguilar decided to transfer on Monday
Iamaleava and Tennessee decided to go their separate ways after the former five-star recruit missed a practice ahead of the Vols' spring game amid reported negotiations over his NIL deal
Joey Aguilar is now officially a Vols quarterback
saying "I'm ready to give my all for Tennessee."
It seems like old news because his transfer from UCLA to UT football was reported on April 21
But UT can now acknowledge Aguilar's signing because his financial aid and scholarship papers have been processed
but it allows coach Josh Heupel to talk publicly about his new quarterback
Aguilar signaled his official status on Tennessee's roster with a social media post
I'm excited to announce that I'm officially committed to the University of Tennessee!" Aguilar posted on Instagram on April 29
"This journey hasn't just been mine; it's been shared with everyone who has supported me — thank you."
Then Aguilar continued with a promise to UT fans
"I'm looking forward to being a part of the traditions
and the legacy of winning at Tennessee," Aguilar posted
compete at the highest level and building something special with my teammates and coaches
Despite being enrolled at UCLA, Aguilar has been taking online classes at Appalachian State to earn his degree from there
UT hopes to have him on campus for workouts as early as late May
passed for 48 yards in two games as a freshman in 2024
signed with UT in the 2025 class and enrolled in January
The former Brentwood Academy standout was ranked the No
The Vols essentially landed Aguilar in a quarterback swap
Aguilar transferred from Appalachian State to UCLA in January
Aguilar had to find a starting opportunity at another school
Aguilar has one season of eligibility remaining because the NCAA granted a blanket waiver to junior college transfers for one additional year
Aguilar passed for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns in two seasons at Appalachian State
he passed for almost 3,000 yards and 21 TDs in two seasons at Diablo Valley Community College in Pleasant Hill
Aguilar is experienced with 41 games played in college
He did not receive a Division I scholarship offer out of high school
But he had a successful stint in junior college
He was in line to sign with Coastal Carolina
but a coaching change re-directed his recruitment to Appalachian State
Aguilar was the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and the Cure Bowl MVP after breaking multiple school records
Josh Heupel is putting the Nico Iamaleava saga to rest for Tennessee football.
The fourth-year Vols coach was asked about "the Nico Iamaleava situation" in a radio interview on Thursday with WGFX in Nashville
He responded in support of Tennessee's new quarterback
"Let's start calling it the Joey Aguilar situation," Heupel said
REQUIRED READING: Why Josh Heupel doesn't have a general manager for Tennessee football like most SEC teams
In one of the most well-covered storylines of the spring in college football
amid a reported NIL contract dispute in which the two sides couldn't come to an agreement
The Vols played their annual spring game with quarterbacks Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre instead
Iamaleava eventually transferred to a crowded quarterback room in UCLA
where Aguilar was the projected starter after transferring from Appalachian State
that's just the landscape," Heupel continued in the interview
You got opportunities to put your roster together
Feel like we got a team that's accountable
We're built to win and we got to go earn it every single day
And we got some new pieces that we gotta get onboarded here in the course of May and that's the nature of college football."
who started the past two seasons at App State
passed for 3,003 yards with 23 touchdowns to 14 interceptions last season
also rushing for 207 yards with two scores
It was a step down from his production in 2023
when he threw for 3,757 yards with 33 touchdowns to 10 interceptions
who fell in the first round of the College Football Playoff to eventual national champions Ohio State last season
although it'll be with a different signal caller leading the offense
UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar is expected to transfer to Tennessee football
swapping places with Nico Iamaleava in the latest strange chapter of this offseason saga
He has one season of eligibility remaining because the NCAA granted a blanket waiver to junior college transfers for one additional year
Aguilar can compete with UT redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger for the starting job in the 2025 season
who helped UT to the College Football Playoff last season but left the program after NIL negotiations broke down
And there’s about to be a stark contrast in UT’s quarterback room
The Vols already have Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre at quarterback
Aguilar did not get a Division I offer out of high school
but he developed into a record-breaking quarterback at Appalachian State before transferring to UCLA
What will Tennessee coach Josh Heupel do with the revamped trio of quarterbacks
Here’s a look at the position for the 2025 season
Heupel always emphasizes that no starting position is promised to a recruit or transfer
Don’t expect that to change in this instance
But UT isn’t bringing Aguilar across the country – and presumably paying him well in NIL money – to hold a clipboard on the sideline
He passed for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns in two seasons at Appalachian State
and he has a 15-month head-start on Aguilar in Heupel’s offense
Assuming Merklinger doesn't enter the transfer portal before it closes April 25
they could stage a preseason battle for the starting position
Their competition will feature familiarity versus experience
But whoever gives the Vols the best chance to beat Syracuse on Aug
Tennessee quarterback future is unchangedUT had a quarterback succession plan that Iamaleava derailed
But his exit and Aguilar’s arrival don’t have to change that beyond the 2025 season
will be a redshirt freshman in the 2025 season
was likely facing a redshirt year to gain weight
And five-star recruit Faizon Brandon
MacIntyre and Brandon were on schedule to compete for the starting job in 2026
They can still follow that timeline with Aguilar on the roster because he has only one season of eligibility remaining
Josh Heupel could tweak offense for Aguilar like Nico IamaleavaHeupel has shown he can work with any kind of quarterback and have success
Heupel and offensive coordinator Joey Halzle tweaked the offense to better fit Iamaleava
Now could they make subtle changes again to fit Aguilar’s skillset
Heupel’s offense worked best when Hendon Hooker was making quick reads on passes and breaking off quarterback runs
but there are at least some similarities in their skillsets
Aguilar is a tough player who can run and throw effectively
so the offense should work similarly with either quarterback
Merklinger can help Aguilar learn offense quicklySpring practice is over
so Aguilar missed valuable reps learning Tennessee’s offense
Blame Iamaleava’s abrupt exit for putting the Vols in that predicament
the NCAA changed its rules on offseason workouts
Player-led practices are allowed in the summer
And coaches can do limited on-field drills with players
as long as there’s no contact or opposing players
Aguilar will get to study film with coaches
throw passes to receivers and run through the offense without a defense on the field
ADAMS: My email holdout fails. Readers won't pay to have opinions on Nico Iamaleava published | Adams
Summer will seem like a whirlwind to the new Vols quarterback
Quarterback Joey Aguilar officially committed to Tennessee out of the transfer portal on Tuesday, revealing the news with an Instagram post
Aguilar took the time to thank those who have walked with him along the way and shared his excitement about joining the Volunteers’ program
I’m excited to announce that I’m officially committed to the University of Tennessee
This journey hasn’t been just mine; It’s been shared with everyone who has supported me – thank you
I’m looking forward to being a part of the traditions
compete at the highest level and build something special with my coaches and teammates
I’m ready to give my all for Tennessee.”
Aguilar’s commitment to Tennessee comes in the wake of the Vols’ divorce with quarterback Nico Iamaleava in mid-April before the Orange & White spring game
Iamaleava wound up transferring to UCLA from the portal
which was the same place that Aguilar was this spring
Aguiar decided to leave and play his final year of college football elsewhere
Aguilar played two seasons at Appalachian State before transferring to UCLA this past December
The 6-foot-3 quarterback threw for 6,760 passing yards and 56 passing touchdowns to 24 interceptions during his two seasons with the Mountaineers
but did see a noticeable decline from his breakout 2023 season to his returning 2024 season
what Aguilar didn’t have in either year was a coach like Josh Heupel and an offense like Tennessee’s
The California native will have the chance to become the Vols’ starting quarterback this fall as he battles it out with redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre
Merklinger and MacIntyre were Tennessee’s only two quarterbacks during the post-Iamaleava spring game
but with Merklinger only having a bit of experience under his belt in an in-game setting
Heupel went to seek out a transfer quarterback with experience in the spring portal
ESPN’s Chris Low first reported on Apr
21 that Aguilar had intentions of joining the Tennessee football program
Aguilar officially announced his commitment
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee football offseason news and notes
A post shared by Jose Aguilar (joey) (@joeyaguilar_4)
It has been assumed for the last couple of weeks that UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar would be transferring to Tennessee
the news became solidified as Aguilar has now officially committed to the Volunteers
Aguilar made the decision to transfer from UCLA after former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava entered the portal and committed to the Bruins
Aguilar through for 6,760 yards on 850 attempts over the last two seasons with App State
He’s exactly what the Vols need in terms of a prospect who’s at least played college football
let alone played it as well as Aguilar has
He threw for 33 TDs in his first year starting in 2023
Though 2024’s statline shows declines in yards
and attempts as well as an increase in turnovers
the team as a whole was in decline in 2024
Tennessee also has quarterback Jake Merklinger and quarterback George MacIntyre on the roster
the Volunteers will have a handful of options to choose from ahead of the 2025 college football season
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College football is in a perfectly fine and reasonable state
REQUIRED READING: Joey Aguilar to transfer from UCLA following Nico Iamaleava commitment | Report
Tennessee reached out to recruit Aguilar to Knoxville
and an agreement was quickly reached to add Aguilar to a quarterback room that includes Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre
It was, indeed, a quick turnaround for Aguilar. It was reported Monday morning he was hitting the transfer portal after Iamaleava was added to an already outrageously crowded UCLA QB room
he will enter an ostensibly more competitive situation at Tennessee after not seeing the field with the Bruins
Aguilar played two seasons at Appalachian State
completing 511 of 850 passes (60.1%) for 6,760 yards
Aguilar threw an FBS-leading 14 interceptions in 2024
2023 stats (with Appalachian State): 293 for 460
10 interceptions2024 stats (with Appalachian State): 218 for 390
14 interceptionsTennessee QB depth chartTennessee's depth chart at quarterback includes two scholarship quarterbacks: Merklinger
Aguilar immediately becomes the most experienced QB in the room
and if the post-2023 iteration of him were heading to Tennessee he might be considered a frontrunner to be a starter
a turnover-prone 2024 that saw an FBS-leading 14 interceptions means he'll compete
But he has to prove he can protect the ball
Suburban Chicagoland
Features & Opinion on local and regional news you won't find anywhere else
Commissioner Aguilar attended the May Day celebrations in Chicago
Commissioner Aguilar spoke to attendees about the importance of supporting labor unions
“My political awakening came through union organizing
As the son of immigrants I was well aware of the systems in place to pit marginalized groups against one another to protect the interests of those in power
that I saw the potential and impact that solidarity among workers
to fight for a world where everyone has housing
we have the strongest multicultural working class in the country
We protect our brothers and sisters in labor
“We must never shy away from the fight
We must not give in to the lies and cruelty spread by some to cause divides among workers
Whether you are a third-generation pipefitter or a newly arrived immigrant looking to support their family
we will fight for your rights and protections
you are the engine that powers our communities
Our commitment to you is steadfast and will never go away
we can and will continue to send a message to the entire country that workers
but today we recommit to never failing to meet the moment.”
You must be logged in to post a comment
Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns
Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Iamaleava transferred from Tennessee to UCLA
A quarterback swap would add another strange chapter to this offseason saga
Aguilar spent less than four months at UCLA after transferring from Appalachian State, and he reportedly had a strong spring with the Bruins
But Iamaleava's arrival has changed his plans
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said the Vols would add a quarterback from the portal after Iamaleava left over a dispute about NIL pay
Heupel has not identified potential quarterback transfers
but Aguilar is among the best available options in the portal
Here's what you should know about Aguilar and Tennessee's quarterback situation
Aguilar is a veteran quarterback who broke records at Appalachian State and transferred to UCLA in December
He was in line to be the starting quarterback until Iamaleava came on the scene
he could compete with redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger for the starting job
who helped UT to a 10-3 record and the College Football Playoff last season
Aguilar was the Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year and the Cure Bowl MVP after breaking multiple school records
"I'm excited to announce that I'm officially committed to the University of Tennessee," wrote Aguilar in an Instagram post
"This journey hasn't just been mine; it's been shared with everyone who has supported me - thank you
"I'm looking forward to being a part of the traditions
Aguilar transferred to Tennessee in the wake of former Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava's decision to transfer to UCLA earlier this month (a de facto trade between the two programs
during a Big Orange Caravan stop in Memphis
Vols head coach Josh Heupel spoke about the addition of Aguilar and he confirmed that UT will have a legitimate quarterback competition this summer/fall.
“We’ve got the opportunity to have a great competition at the quarterback position. I like the skill sets of the guys that are in there. I like their mindset," said Heupel
The standard is to have a guy who is ready to play at a championship level."
[he has] close to 7,000 yards passing [and] 24 career starts
I believe," said Heupel in his first public comments about Aguilar
"He’s the got the ability to throw the ball vertically
He’s accurate and on time in the intermediate passing game
He has the ability to use his feet to extend plays
It’s similar to the traits that we have with guys on campus right now."
It sounds like the Vols are going to have a wide open quarterback battle between Aguilar
and true freshman George MacIntyre during fall camp.
MacIntyre may be the most talented of the group
Merklinger has the most experience in Heupel's system (thanks to his redshirt year in 2024)
and Aguilar has the most collegiate experience overall.
it wouldn't be a shocker to see any of Tennessee's three scholarship quarterbacks under center for the season-opener against Syracuse on August 30.
The saga surrounding Nico Iamaleava has reached an apparent end, with the much-discussed Tennessee football transfer committing Sunday to UCLA
It’s not the first time in the past four months that the Bruins believed they had found their quarterback for the 2025 season
Last December, one week after Iamaleava and Tennessee lost to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff, UCLA received a commitment from Appalachian State transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar
REQUIRED READING: Nico Iamaleava joining UCLA after departing Tennessee for transfer portal
At the time, it looked like a mutually beneficial marriage. Aguilar, an Antioch, California native, got the opportunity to return to his home state and suit up for a Power Four program while the Bruins
got a proven and productive signal-caller who had thrown for more than 3,000 yards in each of the past two seasons
due to previously unforeseeable circumstances
that potential pairing may end before it ever got to begin
After missing a practice ahead of his team’s spring game while engaged in active negotiations over his NIL deal with the school
Iamaleava and Tennessee went their separate ways on April 12
putting a former five-star recruit and playoff starter on the market
Before his commitment Sunday, Iamaleava had been publicly linked to UCLA for days. The murmurs were loud enough that Aguilar’s representatives had started reaching out to other schools to gauge their interest in the former Appalachian State standout, according to a report from ESPN’s Chris Low
A Bruins quarterback room that was once empty following the graduation of Garbers and the transfer of Justyn Martin is now uncomfortably full
with Iamaleava’s commitment raising questions about what Aguilar’s future with the program will be
Here’s a closer look at Aguilar and UCLA’s quarterback situation:
REQUIRED READING: Top players in the college football transfer portal rankings start with Nico Iamaleava
Aguilar worked with the Bruins and their coaching staff during spring practice while earning praise from new offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri
"I think Joey's a guy that can be able to understand information,” Sunseri, who coached against Aguilar while at James Madison, said earlier this month
“I think he's a guy that can be really pushed
I think he's been able to take that coaching
With Iamaleava now aboard, UCLA has nine quarterbacks on its roster
though that number could shrink given the latest addition to the position group and with the spring transfer portal window open until April 25
the Bruins’ quarterback roster includes Dermaricus Davis
a Washington transfer and former four-star recruit
the son of former NFL Pro Bowler Matt Hasselbeck
Here’s a look at the quarterbacks on UCLA’s roster as of Iamaleava's commitment on Sunday:
REQUIRED READING: Lee Corso to leave ESPN's 'College GameDay.' He'll take soul of college football with him
Joey Aguilar statsAguilar spent the past two seasons at Appalachian State
where he was a productive passer for Mountaineers teams that went a combined 14-11
56 touchdowns and 24 interceptions while adding 456 yards and five touchdowns on the ground
Here’s a look at his year-by-year stats at Appalachian State:
Aguilar played for two seasons at Diablo Valley Community College in California
he completed 64% of his passes for 1,446 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions in six games
Coming out of junior college, Aguilar was rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports’ Composite rankings
115 overall prospect in the 2023 class and the No
behind only current BYU starter Jake Retzlaff
Aguilar was similarly rated as a transfer prospect
of Valparaiso passed away on February 17th
Carol is survived by her loving family including her sister
Connie (Jeff) Webb of Valparaiso; loving sons
Nicole Garcia; three amazing grandchildren: Dezmond Garcia
and Nevaeh Garcia; nephew/Tee Bird Jeffery (Lacey) Webb; and many friends
Carol lived for her family and loved endlessly
Our hearts are heavy from this immense loss
Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 25, 2025 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at St. Iakovos Greek Orthodox Church at 36 W
with a Funeral Service beginning at 12:00 PM. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery
My sincere condolences to Rob and Richard for the loss of you mom
In what sure looks like a trade, Tennessee has added UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar after former Vol quarterback Nico Iamaleava picked UCLA on earlier this month. Aguilar was in Westwood only for a few months after returning to his home state following a solid two year stint as the quarterback of Appalachian State. He announced his decision officially on his social media platforms on Tuesday.
“First, I want to thank God for guiding me through this journey and opening doors I could not have imagined,” Aguilar said in his post. “I’m excited to announce that I’m officially committed tò the University of Tennessee!
This journey hasn’t just been mine; it’s been shared with everyone who has supported me – thank you.
I’m looking forward to being a part of the traditions, the fans, and the legacy of winning at Tennessee. I’m ready to get to work, compete at the highest level and build something special with my teammates and coaches.
Top 101Shane BeamerPuts NCAA on blast
Hot3Trump
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I can’t wait to get to Rocky Top! I’m ready to Give My All for Tennessee.”
It’s a quick turnaround to a season that’s just a few months away. Having to learn the offense and culture in Knoxville will be very important. He has been taking dual classes at both UCLA and online at Appalachian State as he looks to graduate early in May. 
He joins redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre in a young quarterback room. He will walk in the door with the most experience, but the least experience in this offense.
He compiled really strong numbers in high school. In final two prep seasons at Freedom High School, threw for 5,575 yards with 59 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
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Tennessee continues to look for help at defensive tackle as well as wide receiver in the portal. Hoops is also looking for roster additions...
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Omarr Norman-Lott became the second Tennessee Volunteer to be selected in this year's 2025 NFL Draft after being selected in the second round by the...
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Hot3Trump, Saban blastedNIL order ripped
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vsFirst Round
Aguilar Leads BIG EAST After Round One at Riverton Pointe4/19/2025 4:56:00 PM | Women's Golf
“We’ve got the opportunity to have a great competition at the quarterback position
I like the skill sets of the guys that are in there
I like their mindset," Heupel said at the Big Orange Caravan stop in Memphis on April 29
The standard is to have a guy who is ready to play at a championship level."
Merklinger and MacIntyre were highly touted recruits in UT’s past two signing classes
Heupel and the Vols are ready to move forward
There are three options for the 2025 season
but his debut at a Power Four school will come at UT
He presumably landed a lucrative NIL deal for a shot at the starting job
a source with knowledge of the situation told Knox News
The source requested anonymity because those negotiations are private
What Josh Heupel likes about Joey AguilarThe Big Orange Caravan provides Heupel with his first opportunity to talk to fans and media about Aguilar
Aguilar’s transfer from UCLA to UT was reported on April 21
But UT can now acknowledge his signing because his financial aid and scholarship papers have been processed
He’s the got the ability to throw the ball vertically," Heupel said
"He’s accurate and on time in the intermediate passing game
He has the ability to use his feet to extend plays and in the quarterback run game
It’s similar to the traits that we have with guys on campus right now."
MacIntyre, a four-star recruit, signed with UT in the 2025 class and enrolled in January. The former Brentwood Academy standout was ranked the No
Despite being enrolled at UCLA, he has been taking online classes at Appalachian State to earn his degree from there
He released his first message to the Vols on social media just hours before Heupel’s appearance at the Big Orange Caravan
“I’m looking forward to being a part of the traditions
and the legacy of winning at Tennessee,” Aguilar posted on Instagram on April 29
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a massive move for the freshman star who held out from the Volunteer program
questions began to arise about the expected future of current Bruins starting quarterback and former Appalachian State senior quarterback Joey Aguilar
How does Iamaleava's addition impact the future of Aguilar in Westwood
ESPN senior writer Chris Low reported that with Iamaleava making the switch to Westwood, Aguilar's camp has been making calls to other schools looking to "gauge interest"
It is somewhat expected for Aguilar to seek another location if he is no longer scheduled to be the starting quarterback
it won’t be close to the $4 million his camp was asking for from Tennessee
have been making calls to other schools to gauge interest
Assuming that Iamaleava will be the Bruins' starting quarterback in 2025
that leaves Aguilar with a $1- million NIL deal as a backup quarterback
something he certainly was not planning on this season
it would be difficult to fault Aguilar for making that tough decision
That is what the transfer portal world has gotten us to
A guy works his butt off to earn a transfer to one of the marquee schools
and immediately has his starting spot snatched from underneath him just months away from Week 1
Aguilar made his transfer commitment to UCLA back in December
He had been taking first-team reps with the Bruins offense for the entirety of spring practice and was being talked about as the No
The depth chart may look much different now
In his senior season with the Mountaineers
Aguilar tossed for 3,003 yards on 55.9% completion with 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions
His numbers motivated Bruin fans to believe he was going to make a sizeable impact in his final year of eligibility
They likely did not shell out close to the $4-million package that Iamaleava was requesting from Tennessee
but they would be paying several millions of dollars to a pair of starting quarterbacks
It almost forces Aguilar out of town unless a quarterback battle is had
From the sheer talent that Iamaleava brings
it can be projected that he will be the Week 1 starter against Utah
With the shenanigans that he has pulled over the past few weeks
Foster would hopefully be open to giving Aguilar a starting shot if he were to stay with UCLA
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TOM CAVANAUGH
UT's quarterback situation is the the most significant storyline to come out of the spring transfer portal window for the Vols
On this edition of "The Volunteer State" podcast
UT beat writer Adam Sparks takes a hard look at Aguilar's game: The good
he examines whether UT's transfer portal strategy is working
listen to the podcast here or find "The Volunteer State" on your favorite podcast app
Sparks recalls his many years covering dynamic quarterbacks in the Sun Belt Conference and Conference USA
Others were exactly where they should've been at the mid-major level
Aguilar was effective and productive at Appalachian State
He passed for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns in two seasons
His game highlights reveal a few things about his game
But he appears to run to extend pass plays more than just designed QB runs.He is tough
He hangs in the pocket and takes hits.He can throw an accurate deep ball with touch
But he can also miss some intermediate throws because of mechanics that probably won’t get fixed in just one season at UT
There's little time to dwell on that.Aguilar can sometimes be reckless at quarterback
He takes chances and throws the ball up for grabs too often.Is Joey Aguilar too careless with the football?At Appalachian State
Aguilar threw 56 TD passes and 24 interceptions
and the burden of making plays was put on him
But that high number of interceptions is a concern for the Vols
Hendon Hooker had a jaw-dropping 58 TD passes and five interceptions in 2021-22 at UT
But Hooker protected the ball reasonably well before he ran Josh Heupel's offense
He tossed 24 TD passes and seven interceptions at Virginia Tech
Joe Milton threw 32 TD passes and five interceptions in 2021-23 at UT
He had five TD passes and six interceptions at Michigan
Nico Iamaleava threw 21 TD passes and five interceptions in 2023-24 at UT
Aguilar's talent could win him the starting quarterback position
he would keep it or lose it based on how well he protects the football
UT had already tweaked its offense this offseason to hopefully fit Iamaleava better
Some of those adjustments showed in spring practices
Now that Iamaleava is gone and Aguilar arrives
will UT change the offense again to fit this quarterback
Or will it revert to a pre-Iamaleava version of the offense
Aguilar will only have limited workouts with coaches
player-led practices and film study during the summer
He's got to learn the basics of the offense and the play-calling language in a very short time
That advantage is probably Merklinger's best asset in trying to win the starting job
Sparks goes more in depth in that discussion and UT's transfer portal strategy
Listen to the podcast for that full breakdown
It's time to move forward with the new signal-caller in town. The Tennessee Vols recently wrapped up spring camp, but once fall camp gets here, all eyes are going to be on quarterback Joey Aguilar instead of former 5-star signee Nico Iamaleava
Nico is off to UCLA and people can't stop talking about his questionable decision to leave Knoxville to play for the Bruins
Heupel is putting the past in the past and he's focused on Aguilar doing what he can to not only win the QB1 job
but also to make this a memorable season with the Vols
While at App State, Aguilar tossed the ball all over the field - there's a reason UCLA handed him an NIL deal worth north of $1 million prior to Iamaleava moving to Westwood. If you ask Josh Heupel
there's no doubt in his mind Aguilar will be able to get the job done for him:
Josh Heupel on Joey Aguilar:"He has the ability to throw the ball vertically. He's accurate and on time in the intermediate passing game. (He) has the ability to use his feet to extend plays, but you can use him in the quarterback run game, too." #Vols pic.twitter.com/DiZGMa0tDx
you can tell Heupel indeed has a lot of confidence in the UCLA transfer
Plenty of Vols fans are pretty darn worried about the future for this team
as things are feeling a bit unclear leading up to 2025
did anyone imagine that Iamaleava would leave town and sign with a Big Ten squad
It felt like Tennessee had nothing to worry about at QB or for the offense as a whole
the focus was on the program bringing in a new wideout or two for Iamaleava to add to his list of weapons
Instead, the shocking news came in, which is still tough to believe. Regardless of that, the focus has shifted and Aguilar has the opportunity to come in and become a cult hero for Vols Nation
People have already wasted no time showering him with love and it's only going to help his popularity with Heupel backing him the way he did this week
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Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands
While at App State, Aguilar tossed the ball all over the field - there's a reason UCLA handed him an NIL deal worth north of $1 million prior to Iamaleava moving to Westwood. If you ask Josh Heupel
Josh Heupel on Joey Aguilar:"He has the ability to throw the ball vertically. He's accurate and on time in the intermediate passing game. (He) has the ability to use his feet to extend plays, but you can use him in the quarterback run game, too." #Vols pic.twitter.com/DiZGMa0tDx
Instead, the shocking news came in, which is still tough to believe. Regardless of that, the focus has shifted and Aguilar has the opportunity to come in and become a cult hero for Vols Nation
Heupel clearly has a ton of confidence in his new quarterback
Over a week after it was reported that Aguilar was expected to transfer to Tennessee, he made it official. Aguilar took to social media on Tuesday to announce his commitment to play for Josh Heupel’s Volunteers.
First, I want to thank God for guiding me through this journey and opening doors I could not have imagined,” Aguilar wrote in a note posted on his account. “I’m excited to announce that I’m officially committed to the University of Tennessee!
“This journey hasn’t just been mine; it’s been shared with everyone who has supported me – thank you.
“I’m looking forward to being a part of the traditions, the fans, and the legacy of winning at Tennessee. I’m ready to get to work, compete at the highest level and build something special with my teammates and coaches.
“I can’t wait to get to Rocky Top! I’m ready to Give My All for Tennessee.
Aguilar’s commitment completes a quarterback swap between Tennessee and UCLA via the transfer portal. When UCLA accepted a commitment from former Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava, Aguilar opted to hit the transfer portal before the spring window closed. The Vols were happy to add Aguilar to the QB room.
Aguilar did not play a game at UCLA. He joined the Bruins after spending the past 2 seasons at App State.
A native of Antioch, California, Aguilar played his first 2 seasons of college football at Diablo Valley Community College, northeast of San Francisco. He then transferred to App State and won Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year.
In 2023, Aguilar rewrote the record book at App State. He owns the single-season school records for passing yards (3,757), passing touchdowns (33), attempts (460), completions (293) and 200-yard passing games (13).
Aguilar followed up his 2023 season with a solid showing in 2024. He started 11 games, throwing for 3,003 passing yards and 23 touchdowns on 390 attempts, with an average of 273.0 passing yards per game.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jose Aguilar (joey) (@joeyaguilar_4)
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters
He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones
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ASU FOOTBALL
BY BRANDON CADIZ
ASU football added another defensive piece to its 2026 recruiting class and its first linebacker
Linebacker Oscar Aguilar announced his commitment to the Sun Devils on Tuesday morning
205-pounder out of Downey High School played on both sides of the ball until focusing on defense this past season
Aguilar contributed to a Downey team that went 9-2 and finished first in the Gateway league at 5-0
The three-star prospect was second on the team in total tackles (102) and sacks (4.0)
2026 linebacker oscar aguilar committed to arizona state via his instagram. rated by 247 no. 111 at his position and no. 125 in californiahttps://t.co/4SzvZYPj9S pic.twitter.com/MDRo03VoZ4
— Damon Allred (@iamdamonallred) April 29, 2025
Nationally, Aguilar is the 111th-ranked player at his position and the 125th-best in California
Arizona State is ranked No
13 in the 2026 recruiting class according to 247 Sports
vsThird Round
Aguilar Named to All-Tournament Team as Pirates Wrap BIG EAST4/21/2025 4:44:00 PM | Women's Golf
Phillip Fulmer believes the Tennessee football team culture and talent have already determined whether the Vols can manage a delicate quarterback situation
If UT has good team chemistry, player leadership and a supporting cast, it will be able to successfully replace Nico Iamaleava
the older guys and returning guys are going to help the new ones,” said Fulmer
Then the playing time will work itself out on the field.”
The winner of UT’s quarterback competition will replace Iamaleava, who transferred to UCLA following a dispute over his NIL contract.
had to get his players to follow first-year quarterbacks like Peyton Manning
Casey Clausen and Erik Ainge without the luxury of them going through spring practice
But Fulmer still had to maintain team harmony while adding a new key ingredient
and that’s the chance to win championships,” Fulmer said
“That has to stay at the forefront of everything.”
Fulmer offered his time-tested advice on the Vols’ quarterback competition during an interview with Knox News while promoting the 26th Annual Phillip Fulmer Golf Classic
which benefits the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley
The tournament will be held May 2 at Avalon Country Club in Lenoir City. An online auction is open from April 28-May 2. Visit FulmerAuction.com to see the auction items
VOLS QB BATTLE How Joey Aguilar impacts Jake Merklinger in 2025 season
Aguilar will be a fifth-year senior after playing two junior college seasons and two more at Appalachian State
He has played 41 games in his college career
But they already have a good rapport with teammates while Aguilar comes in as a stranger to the UT locker room
Fulmer said the level of team leadership can pre-determine how well this will go
They have to make sure this happens in the right way,” Fulmer said
“The off-the-field stuff like the locker room and meeting room and socially
that’s where any team needs to be strong before finding their quarterback.”
appeared to lead in that vein after Iamaleava was dismissed from the team
we’re good with whoever we have back there at quarterback,” Kitselman said on April 12 after UT’s spring game
We’ve got guys that want to give their all.”
Fulmer has juggled new and old quarterbacks before
Manning started as a freshman after starter Jerry Colquitt and backup Todd Helton were lost to injuries
Casey Clausen started over returning quarterbacks Joey Matthews and A.J
Ainge and Brent Schaeffer started as freshmen despite redshirt junior Rick Clausen already being on the roster
The common denominator is that each new quarterback leaned on a steady supporting cast on a Top 25 team
you put more pressure on your best players,” Fulmer said
“All three of those (first-year quarterbacks) had the benefit of great running backs
an experienced offensive line and a defense that could give you a chance.”
“Coach (Josh) Heupel has had to do that before and will again.”
The Phillip Fulmer Golf Classic has raised almost $3 million for Boys & Girls Clubs over the past 26 years
and the online auction is a big part of that
Here are some of the most popular auction items this year
All proceeds benefit the 24 Boys & Girls Clubs in Knox, Anderson, Blount, Loudon and Claiborne counties, which serve over 7,500 members, ages 5 to 17 years old. To make a donation or for more information about the event, visit FulmerGolfClassic.com
Shortly after Nico Iamaleava made his transfer to UCLA official
the Tennessee Volunteers have essentially completed a college football trade
plans to sign with the Tennessee Volunteers
Big Orange caravan tour kicked off its ‘spring-swing’ through the Volunteer state on Tuesday
Meet and greet with Vols fans has to be far more relaxing for head coach Josh Heupel than dealing with the portal and NIL
Tennessee of course saw quarterback Nico Iamaleava transfer to UCLA this month
And then the Vols got Bruins quarterback Joey Aguilar
Joey Aguilar’s camp isn’t waiting around to find out
Sources tell Low that representatives for Aguilar — the former Appalachian State standout who transferred to UCLA earlier this offseason — have already started calling other programs to gauge interest
The college football quarterback carousel just got a serious jolt — but don’t ink Nico Iamaleava to Westwood just yet
Despite the smoke surrounding Iamaleava’s reported transfer to UCLA
ESPN’s Chris Low dropped a midday bombshell that the deal is far from finalized
while negotiations are “ramping up,” the financial terms on the table are reportedly nowhere near the $4 million figure his camp once sought from Tennessee
“If Iamaleava’s deal with UCLA gets done, it won’t be close to the $4 million his camp was asking for from Tennessee,” Low posted on X. “Talks ramping up.”
With Iamaleava potentially headed to the Bruins
Let’s be clear: this isn’t your average backup QB exploring options
Aguilar is coming off a record-setting season at App State
where he lit up the Sun Belt for 3,757 passing yards
and over 4,000 yards of total offense — all single-season school records
That effort earned him Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year honors in 2023 and honorable mention All-Conference status in 2024
He might be looking for a new home before he’s even taken a snap for UCLA
This is the new reality of the transfer portal era — where a high-profile name like Iamaleava can shake the landscape before his bags are even packed
and a proven starter like Aguilar becomes a sudden free agent amid the chaos
while the headlines may read “Nico to UCLA,” don’t forget the fine print: the money isn’t right yet
and the ripple effect is already being felt across college football
JOSH GREER
Tennessee secured a commitment from former App State and UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar on Monday evening
Aguilar replaces Nico Iamaleava, who left Knoxville in stunning fashion earlier this month and ultimately displaced Aguilar in Westwood. Vols fans were very familiar with Iamaleava, who was a high-profile recruiting target for Tennessee dating back to his high school days
But while Aguilar is a multi-year starter at the FBS level, he was a relative-unknown to most SEC fans prior to the Iamaleava transfer saga
Here are a few things Vols fans need to know about their new quarterback:
Aguilar debuted at the FBS level at App State
but that was his first introduction to college football
He began his college career at Diablo Valley College near San Francisco
He was a multi-year contributor for the Vikings
throwing for 2,992 yards across a couple of JUCO seasons
Aguilar also showed off his legs during the first couple years of his college career
He rushed for 619 yards across his 2 seasons at Diablo Valley
It’s also important to note that Aguilar is only eligible for the 2025 season because of a blanket waiver that was issued following a Diego Pavia lawsuit that granted former JUCO players additional eligibility at the FBS level
Aguilar’s college career would have been over after the 2024 campaign
Aguilar ended up at App State ahead of the 2023 season
He went on to have one of the most prolific careers in App State history
He departed Boone with 6,760 passing yards
making him 1 of just 3 quarterbacks in program history (at the FBS level) to clear 6,700 yards in a career
Aguilar trails only Taylor Lamb and Zac Thomas in that regard
but each of those quarterbacks spent 3+ years as the starter while Aguilar was there for just 2 seasons
Aguilar is 5th all-time in passing yards at App State includes stats from the years where it was playing against FCS competition
The 2023 campaign was certainly Aguilar’s best year in Boone
He completed 64% of his passes and had a 33-to-10 TD-to-INT ratio while leading the Mountaineers to a 9-win season
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While Aguilar may not be a name that’s known to many around college football, he was certainly a hot commodity during the winter transfer window. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel
Aguilar signed an NIL deal worth well over $1 million when agreed to join the Bruins
Thamel is also reporting that Aguilar’s deal with Tennessee will be “close” to the $1.2 million that was remaining on his UCLA deal
That’s roughly half of the $2.4 million that Iamaleava was reportedly scheduled to make had he remained in Knoxville for the 2025 campaign
Aguilar isn’t afraid of letting the ball fly down the field
He proved that over his 2 seasons at App State in a variety of ways
Aguilar led the Sun Belt in 2024 with 26 passes that graded out as “big-time throws.” No other Sun Belt QB even had 20 such passes last season
His big-time throw rate of 6.2% is also well above average
Aguilar boasted an impressive average depth of target (ADOT) of 11.7 yards last season
That led all Sun Belt quarterbacks who attempted at least 200 passes in 2024
Of course, gunslingers often put the ball in harm’s way and Aguilar was no different in 2024. He posted a 5.4% turnover-worthy play rate, which ranked 3rd-worst amongst Sun Belt quarterbacks with at least 200 pass attempts last season. Josh Heupel and his staff will have to hone in on some of his decision-making before the season begins this fall
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands
Josh Heupel is done talking about Nico Iamaleava. During a recent sit-down with FM104-5 The Zone in Nashville, the Tennessee head coach requested any discussion about the now-infamous breakup with Iamaleava be forever referred to as “the Joey Aguilar situation.”
to re-enter the portal himself before ultimately landing in Knoxville
During a recent stop on the Big Orange Caravan tour in Nashville
when local radio host Brent Dougherty began a line of questioning about the notorious breakup by describing it as “the Nico Iamaleava situation,” Heupel quickly re-established a new way of discussing what went down last month
"Let's start calling it the Joey Aguilar situation."Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel told @3HL1045 that the Vols are "built to win" as they transition at quarterback for the 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/rAyS0muXIJ
“Well, let’s start calling it the Joey Aguilar situation,” Heupel responded. “At the end of the day, that’s just the landscape. You’re not going to keep everybody. You have opportunities to put your roster together. I feel like we’ve got a team that’s accountable and connected, works hard, competes hard, and we’re built to win. Now we’ve got to go earn it every single day.
“And we have some new pieces that we have to get on-boarded here in the course of May, that’s the nature of college football. So we’ll get ready and keep competing and keep growing.”
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Low reported Aguilar continued to take online classes at Appalachian State after he arrived at UCLA
That means he could join the Tennessee program in mid-to-late May
UCLA’s classes go into June because the school is on the quarter system
meaning Aguilar would have had to wait until the summer to arrive in Knoxville had he started taking classes at UCLA
But since he’s still finishing his degree at Appalachian State, the door could be open to an earlier arrival in Knoxville. Aguilar’s commitment came after the departure of Nico Iamaleava, who left Tennessee amid an NIL dispute and committed to UCLA.
Aguilar transferred to UCLA in December after spending two seasons at Appalachian State. However, he opted to enter the transfer portal after the Bruins signed Iamaleava on April 20.
— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.