Joey Aguilar to transfer to Tennessee: Why UCLA QB is trading schools with Nico Iamaleava

The transfer portal giveth, the transfer portal taketh away.

Tennessee football was left reeling by former star quarterback Nico Iamaleava's swift transfer to UCLA late last week, but within days of his official departure, the Volunteers have found their answer under center. As it turns out, he also might have a bit of a gripe with Iamaleava.

Fresh off of tallying nearly 6.800 passing yards and 56 passing scores across two seasons with Appalachian State, Joey Aguilar appeared to finally secure the Power 4 transfer he yearned for when he signed a letter of intent to play with the Bruins ahead of the 2025 season. Iamaleava's transfer left his status in disarray. So, Aguilar went to where he was wanted: Knoxville, according to ESPN's Chris Low.

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With that, here's what you need to know about Aguilar's curious transfer to the Volunteers.

Why Joey Aguilar is transferring to Tennessee

Aguilar, who only recently arrived in Tinseltown after a two-year stint at Appalachian State, appeared destined to take the reins of UCLA's offense in 2025 — that is, until Iamaleava was made available in the transfer portal.

Iamaleava's high-profile exit from Knoxville proved a contentious transaction, with the former Volunteers hurler spurning his NIL deal — which reportedly paid him around $2 million a season — in the hopes of securing a contract worth double the value.

MORE: How Nico Iamaleava's NIL package at UCLA compares to reported offer at Tennessee

Suffice it to say, Tennessee wasn't pleased. Former head coach Josh Heupel condemned Iamaleava's request, delivered days before the school's spring game earlier in the month.

“There’s no one that’s bigger than the Power T,” Heupel said. “And that includes me.”

Iamaleava found a home with the Bruins, who posted a 5-7 record in 2024. That left Aguilar on the outs. In an unprecedented move, Tennessee effectively "traded" for his services, with the former Mountaineer expected to take over as Heupel's starter in 2025. 

Joey Aguilar stats

Aguilar enjoyed a standout first season of Division I ball in 2023, tallying more than 4,000 yards of total offense while producing 33 passing scores. The 2024 season was a bit more inconsistent, with the then-Appalachian State QB seeing his completion percentage drop precipitously. But he still was tabbed as a formidable talent in the transfer portal, picking up three-star billing, per 247 Sports.

Joey Aguilar stats vs. Nico Iamaleava