The Tennessee Volunteers football team was the talk of college football for a while, especially after Nico Iamaleava made a shocking and untimely decision to leave the program. Iamaleava then transferred to UCLA, making the Bruins one of the biggest winners of the spring transfer portal window.
“The drama and controversy over Iamaleava’s exit from Tennessee has overshadowed the impact his arrival will have on UCLA. After coming up one win shy of bowl eligibility in coach DeShaun Foster’s debut, the Bruins’ addition of Iamaleava pushes them into the second tier of Big Ten teams fighting for seven or more wins during the regular season,” Paul Myerberg wrote.
However, the Vols also made a major addition through the portal by landing quarterback Joey Aguilar. Aguilar had two productive seasons at Appalachian State and is now poised to be the starter for Tennessee in his final year of eligibility. He is considered a strong fit for the Vols' offensive scheme.
“Aguilar fits what Tennessee is looking for, a proven starter with one year to play. He passed for 6,760 yards and 56 TDs last two years at App. State. Also a very capable runner. Heupel and Vols definitely looking for another QB,” Chris Low wrote.
Tennessee did an excellent job securing Aguilar after losing Iamaleava in such dramatic fashion. Because of that, the Vols are also considered winners of the spring portal window.
“While not a match for Iamaleava’s athleticism or potential and a bit too turnover-prone this past season, Aguilar has the experience and comfort level in a quarterback-driven scheme to keep Tennessee in the mix for a return to the playoff. That’s a pretty good on-the-fly signing given what the Volunteers lost in Iamaleava and the lack of options in the springtime portal,” Paul Myerberg wrote.
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The Vols are determined to return to the College Football Playoff and prove that last season wasn’t a one-time success. With Aguilar under center, they certainly have a shot—especially if he gets comfortable in the system.