New Tennessee Vols QB Joey Aguilar comes with a built-in advantage that will immediately help Josh Heupel field a more competitive team
The Tennessee Vols have apparently found their new quarterback in App State-to-UCLA-to-Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar. The Vols effectively ended up with a trade of potential starting QBs with the Bruins, with Nico – and, it seems, even his brother Madden – joining the So Cal program.
The Vols are landing someone who gives them something they need – experience. Aguilar has started 25 games with 7212 total yards and 61 total touchdowns on his resume from his two years as App State’s starter in 2023-24.
But he also gives Josh Heupel something else that’s very valuable in today’s NIL/transfer portal world – more financial flexibility. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Aguilar, who has one year of eligibility remaining, is coming to Knoxville for a deal very similar to what he had left at UCLA, around $1.2 million.
Iamaleava’s NIL deal with Tennessee, while not officially reported, was believed to be over $2 million per year. As such, that’s a significant reduction in investment in the position for 2025.
Naturally, those savings should trickle down and provide financial flexibility to allow Heupel to attack the spring transfer portal window and try to address other roster needs that they wouldn’t have been able to do as easily. Secondary is still a need/concern with Jermod McCoy’s timetable for the season still unknown following a January ACL injury. They need to find depth on the offensive line. An experienced wide receiver remains firmly on the wish list.
The spring transfer portal window opened on April 16 and closes on Friday, April 25, so this could end up being a very busy week for Heupel and his staff as they work to build the best roster they can for the 2025 season. And Vol fans, in a way, have their incoming QB to thank for helping with that.
