Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar is taking his case to court in pursuit of one more shot at college football. The senior signal-caller has filed a lawsuit in Knox County Chancery Court, seeking an additional year of NCAA eligibility-a move that could have major implications for both his career and the Volunteers’ quarterback room.
Aguilar’s journey has been anything but conventional. His 2025 season at Tennessee marked his first year in Knoxville, and he made the most of it.
In 13 games, he threw for 3,565 yards, completing 272 of 404 passes with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also chipped in on the ground, adding 101 rushing yards and four scores.
It was a strong campaign that showcased his poise, arm talent, and dual-threat capabilities.
But the path that led him to Tennessee was winding. Aguilar arrived in Knoxville after transferring from UCLA-though he never saw game action for the Bruins.
That stop came after he left Appalachian State, where he had been the Mountaineers’ starter for two seasons. And before that?
Diablo Valley Community College, where he first made a name for himself.
At Appalachian State, Aguilar was a steady presence under center, starting 24 of 25 games between 2023 and 2024. He threw for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns against 24 interceptions, while also rushing for 456 yards and five touchdowns on 140 carries. His ability to stretch the field vertically while keeping defenses honest with his legs made him a consistent threat in the Sun Belt.
His JUCO days at Diablo Valley (2021-22) laid the foundation. There, he passed for 2,992 yards and 21 touchdowns, showing early flashes of the quarterback he would become. Each step of the way, Aguilar has battled, adapted, and grown-traits that now define his career.
Now, with his eligibility in question, Aguilar is turning to the legal system in hopes of extending that journey. The lawsuit doesn’t just represent a personal fight for one more season-it’s a testament to a player who’s worked his way up from community college to the SEC, refusing to let his story end without exhausting every option.
Should Aguilar win his case, Tennessee could be looking at another year with a seasoned, productive quarterback leading the offense. And for Aguilar, it would be a chance to build on a strong 2025 season and potentially elevate his stock for the next level. One thing’s for sure: his fight for eligibility is just the latest chapter in one of college football’s more compelling quarterback stories.