Joey Aguilar’s football journey has never followed the traditional playbook. And now, the next chapter in his unconventional rise is set to unfold in the Southeastern Conference. On Friday morning, the dual-threat UCLA transfer officially committed to the Tennessee Volunteers, setting the college football world abuzz with curiosity, excitement, and plenty of speculation.
Aguilar, who began his career in junior college and carved out a name for himself as one of Division II’s most physically gifted and mentally resilient athletes, will arrive in Knoxville with more than just arm talent. He brings grit, adaptability, and an attitude forged in the underappreciated corners of college football. He’s not just a quarterback; he’s a former high school linebacker, a certified competitor, and a player who doesn’t shy away from contact—in fact, he welcomes it.
This past season, Aguilar recorded 35 tackles and 2 sacks—numbers that immediately raised eyebrows when listed under a quarterback’s name. But those stats aren’t a typo. At UCLA, due to injuries and depth issues, Aguilar did what few quarterbacks in Power 5 football would even consider: he suited up on special teams and occasionally stepped in at safety. That rare toughness is part of what made him such an attractive portal target for Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel and his staff, who value not only physical skill but also leadership and heart.
Aguilar’s decision to join the Vols is the culmination of a whirlwind few months in the transfer portal. After finishing the 2024 season buried on the Bruins’ depth chart as a quarterback but still managing to contribute as a hybrid athlete, he sought a new opportunity—one where he could return to the position he loves, but also continue being the complete football player he’s become. The Vols, it turns out, were looking for exactly that kind of guy.
The California native brings to Tennessee a big arm, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame, and the kind of on-field experience that can’t be measured purely by passing statistics. Though he saw limited quarterback reps at UCLA behind starter Ethan Garbers, Aguilar made the most of every opportunity. In spot duty, he displayed strong pocket presence, a quick release, and an ability to extend plays with his legs. During spring scrimmages and midseason reps in blowout situations, Aguilar showcased flashes of the playmaker he was back at Appalachian State—a poised leader who thrives in chaos and never backs down from a challenge.
That version of Aguilar—the one who threw for over 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns for the Mountaineers in 2023—didn’t disappear when he transferred to UCLA. It simply evolved. The Bruins had a logjam under center, and Aguilar, knowing he could either sit or contribute in a different capacity, made a decision most wouldn’t dare. He told his coaches he was willing to play wherever he was needed. Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn saw a raw but instinctive tackler and asked if he’d suit up on special teams. Aguilar didn’t blink. Not only did he play, he thrived.
In one memorable game against Arizona State, Aguilar lined up on kick coverage, sprinted 45 yards downfield, and made an open-field stop that electrified the sideline. Later in the season, during a lopsided loss to Oregon, he stepped in on defense late in the fourth quarter and registered his first collegiate sack. By season’s end, he had earned the respect of teammates on both sides of the ball—and of coaching staffs across the conference. “Joey’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever been around,” said one UCLA assistant. “He’s got a linebacker’s mentality with a quarterback’s brain. That’s a dangerous combination.”
Now he brings that edge to a Tennessee program that is looking to reload and reestablish itself as a perennial contender in the SEC. With former starter Nico Iamaleava entering the NFL Draft after just one full year as QB1, the Volunteers found themselves in need of a leader and a competitor at the game’s most important position. Aguilar checks both boxes, and then some.
Heupel’s up-tempo, aggressive offensive system is a perfect fit for Aguilar’s skillset. The quarterback thrives on quick reads, fast decisions, and the ability to take off when plays break down. He has a knack for finding open receivers on the run and isn’t afraid to test deep zones with his arm. His JUCO and D-II roots molded him into a scrappy improviser; his time at Appalachian State taught him to lead; and his unique experience at UCLA turned him into one of the most well-rounded, team-first players in the country.
The quarterback competition in Knoxville will be fierce. Sophomore Jake Merklinger is expected to push for starting reps, and incoming freshman phenom Zayden Ross arrives with a four-star pedigree and national expectations. But insiders say don’t count Aguilar out. His experience, combined with his relentless drive, has already made an impression on Tennessee’s staff during unofficial spring workouts and individual drills.
“He’s not here to be a backup,” said one source close to the program. “He’s here to take the job. And if you’ve seen what he’s willing to do to help his team win, you know he’s not bluffing.”
Fans have already started buzzing about the possibilities. Some envision a package built around Aguilar’s mobility and toughness—a sort of hybrid between Hendon Hooker’s explosiveness and Tim Tebow’s physicality. Others believe he could be a full-time starter, capable of running the show in the nation’s toughest conference with poise and aggression. Either way, his arrival adds depth, competition, and intrigue to a quarterback room that will shape Tennessee’s 2025 campaign.
For Aguilar, the decision was about more than football. It was about finding a place that believes in second chances—and third ones, too. “Tennessee believes in me not just as a player but as a person,” Aguilar said in a statement. “They know my journey, they know what I’ve been through, and they know what I bring to the table. I’m ready to get to work and give Vol Nation everything I’ve got.”
Indeed, the road to Knoxville has been long and winding for the 23-year-old. From junior college obscurity to D-II standout to Power 5 utility man, and now to the heart of SEC country—Aguilar has earned every ounce of this opportunity. He arrives not as a five-star golden boy or a media darling, but as a battle-tested warrior with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove.
And maybe that’s exactly what Tennessee needs.
As the Volunteers prepare for a grueling 2025 schedule that includes road trips to Alabama and Georgia and a loaded home slate featuring Texas and Oklahoma, they know they’ll need more than talent—they’ll need toughness, leadership, and resilience. Joey Aguilar brings all three, and then some. His journey defies convention, but it embodies everything Tennessee hopes to be under Heupel: tough, unselfish, and fearless.
In the era of NIL deals, transfer drama, and brand-building, Aguilar represents something refreshingly different. He’s not worried about Instagram followers or endorsement deals. He wants to play. He wants to lead. And most of all, he wants to win.
Now, with the bright lights of Neyland Stadium awaiting and the most passionate fan base in college football behind him, Joey Aguilar finally gets his shot. His unconventional journey has led him to Rocky Top—and the story, it seems, is just beginning.
Will he be Tennessee’s next breakout star? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: if you line up across from Joey Aguilar, you better be ready. Because he’s coming—fast, fearless, and with something to prove.