Since the transfer portal opened last week, Tennessee football has been evaluating potential quarterback transfers, and it appears they’ve zeroed in on their top choice.
That development has led to former Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava leaving the program and heading to UCLA. The move not only brings him closer to his hometown of Los Angeles but reportedly includes around $1 million in NIL compensation.
With Iamaleava departing, Tennessee turned its attention to finding his replacement and landed on former UCLA and Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar. Aguilar entered the portal shortly after Nico made his decision to join the Bruins.
According to ESPN’s Chris Low, Aguilar and Tennessee have met and reached an agreement for him to join the Vols as their quarterback for the 2025 season.
The quarterback shuffle is officially complete. Joey Aguilar, who had transferred from App State to UCLA during the winter window, will now suit up for Tennessee—essentially switching places with Iamaleava, who moves from Knoxville to Los Angeles in this latest round of the portal.
This dramatic turn of events highlights the wild nature of college football in the NIL and transfer portal era, as two major programs essentially “swap” quarterbacks.
Joey Aguilar to Tennessee would be super interesting.
Very high upside 56 TD passes at App State.
Aguilar to Matthews, Brazzell, Staley, Boo, etc. could be fun.
pic.twitter.com/CIuAn9WtgD— Garrett Armbrust (@4thandsaturday) April 21, 2025
For Josh Heupel and the Vols, Aguilar could be an exciting addition. Beyond the novelty of the QB swap, Aguilar brings valuable experience and a strong track record, making him a potentially explosive fit in Heupel’s high-octane offense.
Aguilar made a name for himself as a dynamic passer at App State, and surrounded by top-tier talent at Tennessee, he might quickly emerge as one of the SEC’s standout quarterbacks.
He threw for 56 touchdowns last season and totaled 7,212 yards and 61 touchdowns over two seasons at App State. Originally transferring to UCLA with hopes of being the starter, Aguilar’s path changed once Iamaleava arrived, prompting his move to Tennessee.
Tennessee took a measured approach in their QB search, and Aguilar might just be the right choice. Now, the former Mountaineer must quickly learn the Vols’ playbook over the summer to be ready for the upcoming season.
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