Former UCLA QB Joey Aguilar plans to sign with Tennessee

Former UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar will sign with Tennessee out of the NCAA transfer portal, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. He essentially swapped places with new UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava.

Nakos reported Tennessee, along with Wake Forest and Tulane, were the early suitors for Aguilar. Now, he’s heading to Knoxville.

Aguilar transferred to UCLA from Appalachian State this spring. He was highly productive for the Mountaineers.

Aguilar threw for more than 3,000 yards in both years at Appalachian State, and his 3,003 yards ranked as the highest total in the Sun Belt. That came after an impressive 2023 campaign in which he threw for 3,757 yards and 23 touchdowns in 14 games as the Mountaineers finished 9-5 and played in the Sun Belt Championship.

Before arriving at Appalachian State, Aguilar played two years at the JUCO level at Diablo Valley College. His decision to enter the portal came after the NCAA granted a waiver to former JUCO players with eligibility remaining in 2025, and that opened the door for him to play one more season.

UCLA QB Joey Aguilar transfers to Tennessee

On Sunday, former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava announced he is transferring to UCLA. The transfer QB released a statement reflecting on the process on Instagram.

“First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for His grace, for continuing to bless my family, and for allowing me to live out my passion each and every day,” Iamaleava wrote. “To the amazing people in Knoxville, thank you for embracing and uplifting me throughout my time there.

“I’ll be forever thankful for the support you showed me every step of the way and I’ll always cherish the relationships I built there and the memories I created with my brothers. I believe with all my heart that I gave my all as a Volunteer. I’m truly grateful for the time I had at UT.

“My journey at UT has come to an end. This decision was incredibly difficult, and truthfully, not something I expected to make this soon. But I trust God’s timing, and I believe He’s leading me where I need to be. Even though, this chapter is ending, a new chapter has begun and I am committed to UCLA!”