Tennessee bolstered its quarterbacks room late Monday with the addition of Joey Aguilar.

Aguilar, who spent the previous two seasons at Appalachian State where he was a record-setting quarterback before transferring to UCLA in December, re-entered the portal and committed to the Vols in a matter of hours.

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The reason for Aguilar’s move after going through spring practices with the Bruins, was the addition of ex-Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava to the UCLA roster.

Iamaleava entered the transfer portal last week after two seasons with the Vols, including the 2024 season as the starter.

But early Heisman Trophy odds are seemingly giving Tennessee the edge in this unofficial trade between the two schools.

According to FanDuel, Aguilar has better odds to win college football’s most coveted individual award in 2025 at +4500 odds.

Iamaleava currently has +8000 odds.

How both quarterbacks perform at their new destinations remains to be seen.

Aguilar has had the more productive career to this point. After playing at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California, he signed with Appalachian State in 2023.

In his first year with the Mountaineers, Aguilar set single-season program records in passing yards (3757), touchdowns (33), total offense (4,002), 200-yard passing games (13 games), completions (293) and attempts (460).

Aguilar totaled 6,700 passing yards, 56 touchdowns and 24 interceptions in two seasons.

Iamaleava was a one of the top-rated quarterbacks coming out of high school in the 2023 class. A five-star prospect that signed with Tennessee as part of a landmark NIL deal, he red-shirted his freshman season behind starter Joe Milton.

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The results of Iamaleava first season as the Vols’ full-time starter in 2024 were mixed. Tennessee won 10 games for the second time in four years under Josh Heupel and reached the newly expanded College Football Playoff.

But there were times where the Vols’ offense was hindered by miscommunication, overthrows and dropped passes. Iamaleava finished the season 2,616 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Eleven of those touchdowns came against Power Five teams.

UCLA is coming off of a 5-7 season in its Big Ten debut in 2024. The Bruins were ranked 15th in the league in total offense, leading to the hire of first-year offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri this past offseason.

Aguilar immediately becomes the most experienced quarterback on Tennessee’s roster, which featured just two scholarship players before the addition of Aguilar.

Redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger appeared in just two games last season, while freshman George MacIntyre enrolled in January.

Aguilar has one year of eligibility remaining.

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