Urban Meyer slams UCLA over Nico Iamaleava trade, hails Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar as a monster

Just a few months ago, things looked very bleak for the Tennessee Volunteers when five-star QB Nico Iamaleava abruptly left the team. Many wondered how far Tennessee would fall after losing their quarterback so suddenly. Urban Meyer certainly believed losing Iamaleava would be disastrous.

“They’re screwed, and I’m going to say it again,” Meyer said. “A potential first-rounder walks out on you. He was the starting quarterback of a team that was in the playoffs. A team, at times, that looked really, really good. He was a young quarterback. You know what happens to young quarterbacks? They get better,” Meyer added.

Fast forward a few months, and Meyer has admitted he was wrong, calling UCLA the loser in this so-called trade.

“UCLA makes the worst trade in the history of trades and Tennessee lands this guy (Aguilar),” Meyer said this week on The Triple Option. “I don’t know this guy (Aguilar), but he must be a monster. And I was the first guy, when Nico left, I said, D-U-N, done. It’s over in Knoxville. How do you lose a quarterback with that talent? I was dead wrong. Dead wrong. That kid played his — I know they lost, but he played his ass off, man.”

Aguilar nearly threw for 400 yards against Georgia, one of the best defenses in the SEC. Aside from a few stalled drives, he led his team the entire way. Even in defeat, he showed strong leadership.

“Tennessee senior QB Joey Aguilar said if he'd personally executed better, the game wouldn't have gotten to overtime. Said his job is to help Tennessee win games, and he left too much on the table, and that it starts with him,” Wes Rucker posted.

Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

The fact is Tennessee improved significantly with Aguilar — a turn of events few expected. Meanwhile, UCLA is struggling in Week 4, and the Vols are once again playoff and even SEC Championship contenders.

Never judge a book by its cover. Iamaleava made his decision, and it turned out to be a costly mistake. Until he figures it out, he’ll likely remain one of the most ridiculed college athletes.