Report: Joey Aguilar reps gauging interest after Nico Iamaleava landing with UCLA

Nico Iamaleava landing with UCLA on Wednesday may cause more movement throughout the transfer portal. According to ESPN’s Chris Low, representatives from Bruins quarterback Joey Aguilar are already calling to check interest from other programs.

“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 wrote on X. “Talks ramping up. Reps for current UCLA QB Joey Aguilar, who transferred from App. State in offseason, have been making calls to other schools to gauge interest.”

Aguilar set single-season school records in passing yards (3,757), passing touchdowns (33) and total offense (4,002) at Appalachian State in 2023. He was named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and then followed that up with by making honrable mention all-conference in 2024.

Despite playing just two seasons for the Mountaineers, Aguilar ended his career No. 5 on the school’s all-time list for touchdown passes (56) and passing yards (6,760). He committed to the Bruins as the No. 44 quarterback in On3’s Transfer Portal Player Rankings.

But with UCLA now adding Iamaleava, who ranks as the No. 2 quarterback, that means Aguilar will likely have to look elsewhere if he hopes to be a starter in 2025. The transfer portal opened Wednesday and he will have 10 days to enter his name if he chooses to do so.

Prior to Appalachian State, Joey Aguilar played two seasons at Diablo Valley Community College. Because JUCO seasons no longer count against NCAA eligibility, he can play two more seasons at the DI level.

The Athletic reported the news Wednesday that Iamaleava is expected to commit to UCLA after entering the transfer portal with a “do not contact” tag. Iamaleava previously played for Tennessee but made headlines last week after On3’s Pete Nakos reported that he was seeking a new NIL deal.

After the QB sat out practice and skipped a team meeting Friday, Vols coach Josh Heupel made the decision to move on from him, telling the team. Now it’s clear that Tennessee will not be the only team affected.

Iamaleava threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore and it appeared as if he’d get ready to take a leap forward in 2025. He made his first career start in the Citrus Bowl to end the 2023 season, completing 12 of 19 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown while also adding 27 rushing yards and three scores on the ground.