Shortly after losing quarterback Nico Iamaleava to the NCAA transfer portal, the Tennessee Vols landed a commitment from UCLA Bruins transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar.

Aguilar hasn’t joined the Tennessee program yet as he’s still finishing up school at Appalachian State (which is where he played before transferring to UCLA after the 2024 season).

VolQuest’s Austin Price joined 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon, Kayla, and Will on Tuesday morning and he gave the latest on when Aguilar could join Tennessee.

“Once he gets here, it will be very much accelerated,” said Price of Aguilar’s eventual arrival at Tennessee. “He’s been looking at the playbook and trying to familiarize himself with it. Coach (Joey) Halzle’s been out on the road recruiting, so I don’t think they’ve spent a ton of time on Zooms or anything to this point.

“But if everything works out — Joey told me last night that they’re trying to get all of his stuff finalized with Appalachian State for graduation — if he’s able to get all of that done, and get everything sent over, he could be [at Tennessee] next week (the week of May 12). So that’s the hope.”

Price noted that Aguilar is allowed to zoom with Tennessee’s coaches to help get a jumpstart on learning the offense. The only thing he can’t do (until he’s officially enrolled at Tennessee) is participate in team workouts with the Vols.

Aguilar, redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger, and true freshman George MacIntyre will battle for the starting quarterback job this summer/fall.

And that battle is essentially wide open.

Vols insider gives the latest on when UCLA transfer QB Joey Aguilar could join Tennessee’s football program

Aguilar hasn’t joined the Tennessee program yet as he’s still finishing up school at Appalachian State (which is where he played before transferring to UCLA after the 2024 season).