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Tennessee finds its transfer quarterback in UCLA's Joey Aguilar

On3 imageby:Brent Hubbs•04/21/25•

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joey aguilar
Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

Tennessee has found its quarterback in the NCAA Transfer Portal. UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar, who transferred from Appalachian State to UCLA, plans to transfer to Tennessee after UCLA added former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

Aguilar played at Appalachian State before transferring to UCLA back in January. When quarterback Nico Iamaleava entered the portal, Aguilar’s reps began calling schools to gauge interested in case Iamaleava became a Bruin. On Monday, Aguilar met with the UCLA coaches to discuss his future and following that conversation, Aguilar decided to enter the portal. 

Tennessee’s need at quarterback was clear following Iamaleava’s departure. Josh Heupel only has two scholarship signal callers on his roster and he made it clear following the spring game that moving on from Iamaleava meant they would add a quarterback through the portal. 

“As we go through the process, you’re always evaluating what you have on your roster where you’re, I’m gonna say vulnerable, where numbers might not be right, injuries, whatever. And you’re trying to get your roster where it needs to be to give yourself the best chance when you get to kick off in the fall. And certainly with only two scholarship players at the quarterback position, we’re going to have to find another guy,” Heupel said.

That guy is Aguilar who was the starter at Appalachian State in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, Aguilar was 293 for 460 (63.7%) for 3,757 yards, 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. App State was 9-5 that season. They lost a double overtime thriller to North Carolina in week two. 

In 2024, the Mountaineers struggled going 5-6. Aguilar wasn’t as productive throwing for 3,003 yards, 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. 

Aguilar left in December after App State hired former South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains as their head coach. 

Aguilar will enter a quarterback room with Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre. Merklinger played in two games in 2024 and MacIntyre arrived on Tennessee’s campus in January to start his Vol career. 

There will be plenty of overtime hours logged in the film room for the Vols to be ready at the quarterback position when they open the season on August 30th against Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta. 

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