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UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar is expected to transfer to Tennessee football, per multiple reports, swapping places with Nico Iamaleava in the latest strange chapter of this offseason saga.
Aguilar is a veteran quarterback who broke records at Appalachian State and transferred to UCLA in December. He was in line to be the Bruins’ starting quarterback until Iamaleava came on the scene.
Iamaleava transferred to UCLA. He entered the portal after leaving Tennessee over a dispute about NIL pay, although his representatives claim it was because of problems with the Vols offense.
Aguilar passed for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns in two seasons at Appalachian State. Before that, he passed for almost 3,000 yards and 21 TDs in two seasons at Diablo Valley Community College in Pleasant Hill, California.
He has one season of eligibility remaining because the NCAA granted a blanket waiver to junior college transfers for one additional year.
Aguilar can compete with UT redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger for the starting job in the 2025 season. They will replace Iamaleava, who helped UT to the College Football Playoff last season but left the program after NIL negotiations broke down.
The transfer portal is open April 16-25.
Joey Aguilar stats at Appalachian State before UCLA
Aguilar is experienced with 41 games played in college, including 24 starts at Appalachian State.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder is from Antioch, California. He did not receive a Division I scholarship offer out of high school. But he had a successful stint in junior college, which drew multiple FBS offers. He was in line to sign with Coastal Carolina, but a coaching change re-directed his recruitment to Appalachian State.
In 2023, Aguilar was the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and the Cure Bowl MVP after breaking multiple school records. He passed for 3,757 yards, 33 TDs…
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Publish date : 2025-04-21 23:05:00
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