Josh Heupel Confirms Tennessee's QB Plan After Aguilar Transfer

In a dramatic offseason for Tennessee football, former five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava departed for UCLA, prompting the Vols to land UCLA's Joey Aguilar in what many have described as an unofficial trade. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel expressed strong confidence in Aguilar, highlighting his ability to throw vertically, accuracy in the intermediate passing game, and mobility. Heupel confirmed there will be an open quarterback competition, with Aguilar joining redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre. Aguilar, who had previously transferred to UCLA from Appalachian State, brings significant experience, including over 7,000 passing yards and 24 career starts. NIL deals reportedly played a significant role in these moves, with both Iamaleava and Aguilar securing substantial financial packages at their new schools. The quarterback shuffle reflects broader trends in college football's transfer portal era and the growing influence of NIL negotiations.