Joey Aguilar replaced Nico Iamaleava, who left Tennessee for UCLA in a rare college football ‘pseudo-trade.’
Aguilar has impressed in his first two games with the Volunteers, rallying the fan base behind him.
Aguilar faces his biggest test yet against No. 3 Georgia, a team Tennessee has not beaten since 2016.
Trades don’t happen in college football. But there was effectively one when Nico Iamaleva left Tennessee for UCLA, resulting in then-incoming Bruins quarterback Joey Aguilar departing to take over Iamaleava’s spot with the Volunteers.
Like trades that happens in the professional ranks, there’s are winners and losers in player movement similar to this. They can become evident immediately or takes time.
There’s only been two weeks of play this season, but in the eyes of those that proudly belt “Rocky Top,” the decision has become crystal clear: they are much better off than they were before, standing strong behind their quarterback after an impressive start sporting the Power T on his helmet.
Now, with No. 3 Georgia coming into Neyland Stadium to open SEC play, Aguilar has the chance to prove he can be the guy to guide them back to the College Football Playoff.
Joey Aguilar’s fast start at Tennessee
While Tennessee fans were done with Iamaleava the moment he went back to California, there was uncertainty surrounding Aguilar. He had experience, spending two years at junior college before starting 25 games at Appalachian State. In two seasons with the Mountaineers, he threw for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns, breaking school records and hovering around the top of several statistical categories.
But life is vastly different in the SEC. Aguilar came to Knoxville knowing there were big shoes to fill. The job wasn’t handed to him either, he had to earn it – and display why he should retain it.
Aguilar made a quick impression in the second quarter of the season opener against Syracuse. On a play action, Aguilar launched a ball over 50 yards in the air and placed it perfectly in the hands of Braylon Staley, who ran it in the endzone for a 73-yard score.
It was the first of three touchdowns Aguilar threw in his Tennessee debut, finishing the day 16-for-28 with 247 yards in the 45-26 win over the Orange that had the Volunteers feeling optimistic about 2025.
“Man, truly, honestly it’s a blessing to have a quarterback like that in the room,” Staley said after the game. “He’s a leader. He’s out there confident.”
The solid start set Aguilar up for a special debut in Neyland Stadium. With his mom and grandmother emotional in the stands, he put up another strong effort with 288 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-31, all in the first half of the 72-17 rout of East Tennessee State.
In just six quarters, Aguilar has thrown for 535 with five touchdowns and no interceptions. His play is largely why the Volunteers are fourth in scoring offense (58.5) and second in total offense (605) per game in the Bowl Subdivision.
“He was difficult to defend. There’s no doubt about it,” East Tennessee State coach Will Healy said.
The immediate success has made “Joey Football” a hero in Knoxville.
It helps having Josh Heupel as his coach, who has become a quarterback guru in the college ranks, coaching Sam Bradford, Drew Lock and Dillion Gabriel before landing in Knoxville. Aguilar is also Huepel’s fourth different signal-caller in the past four years.
“You look at a guy that’s come in, three and a half months, whatever it might be. To be able to learn, grasp and play the way he did, it’s a testament to his work,” Heupel said after the Syracuse win.
As if Aguilar’s play couldn’t have made life great for big orange fans, it’s been sweeter considering how Iamaleava’s time at UCLA has started. Iamaleava has struggled in two losses with the Bruins, throwing for just 391 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, including one that ended the chance of a comeback against UNLV.
Joey Aguilar faces biggest test in Georgia
It’s been all fun, but it must be noted Aguilar’s first two games came against two of Tennessee’s easiest opponents.
The honeymoon phase will certainly be tested against Georgia, entering another chapter of a rivalry that hasn’t really been one lately. Huepel is 0-4 against Kirby Smart, and the Bulldogs have won eight in a row against Tennessee. During the streak, the Bulldogs have won by an average of 24.9, with each victory by at least two touchdowns.
Aguilar did face Power Four teams at Appalachian State. He threw for 275 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in an overtime loss to North Carolina in 2023. Last season, he struggled out of the gate in a blowout loss to Clemson.
Those games against the Tar Heels and Tigers were some of his most inconsistent; they were two of the three games in his FBS career when his completion percentage was less than 52%, including a career-low 43.9% against Clemson.
But with Tennessee and its weapons, he’ll be in better position to play on equal footing.
‘He’s playing really efficiently. He’s got great arm talent. He’s a really good athlete,’ Smart said. ‘He’s been very, very impressive in the two games he played.’
It’s impossible to know how Tennessee and UCLA would have fared without the movement of Iamaleava and Aguilar after spring practice. But with a win against the Bulldogs, Aguilar can continue to have Tennessee thinking about a return to the playoff.
“My transfer from App State to UCLA to now is just another chapter in my life,” Aguilar said. “Coming out here and representing the Big T, GBO, just grateful.”