Quarterback Shuffle: Joey Aguilar Heads to Tennessee as Nico Iamaleava Swaps to UCLA

It's official: the college football quarterback carousel is spinning faster than ever. Just one day after Nico Iamaleava left Tennessee for UCLA, the Volunteers have picked up their own new signal-caller: Joey Aguilar. After spending the last season at Appalachian State and a brief stopover at UCLA through the winter transfer portal, Aguilar is now packing his bags for Knoxville.

The backstory here is juicier than your average playbook. Iamaleava's move was fueled by a much-publicized dispute over Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation. Reports suggest he was gunning for a $4 million deal with Tennessee, hoping to match what other top QBs were getting in the transfer market. His father, Nic Iamaleava, has called this whole narrative "bull---," but the rumors of a holdout for a bigger payday definitely sent some shockwaves across college football.

For context, Iamaleava reportedly had a multi-season NIL deal worth up to $10 million, with $2.4 million projected for this coming season. Not exactly pocket change for a guy aiming to lock down a first-round spot in the 2026 NFL Draft. Last season, he threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns, guiding Tennessee to the College Football Playoff before their title dreams got stomped by Ohio State.

Aguilar, meanwhile, brings his own impressive stats to Tennessee: over the past two years, he's racked up 6,760 passing yards and 56 touchdowns. With one year of eligibility left, he’ll be looking to make his mark in the SEC after Iamaleava’s sudden exit forced his hand.

It’s rare to see a near one-for-one swap like this in college football, and it’s even rarer that the drama off the field matches the action on it. College football fans, buckle up — this QB trade saga might be one for the history books.