In an era where the transfer portal has turned college football into something resembling free agency, Tennessee and UCLA found themselves at the center of what felt like the sport’s first unofficial trade. It wasn’t technically a swap, but the quarterback carousel between the two programs this past offseason had all the hallmarks of one.
After spring practice, former five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava entered the portal expecting a flurry of interest. That market didn’t materialize quite like he hoped.
But UCLA, under new head coach DeShaun Foster, saw an opportunity and brought the Southern California native back home. That move, however, left Joey Aguilar-the Appalachian State transfer who had committed to UCLA in the winter-suddenly without a landing spot.
Tennessee, now in need of a quarterback, welcomed Aguilar to Knoxville. He didn’t just fill a roster spot-he won the starting job outright, beating out freshman Jake Merklinger. And once the season got underway, Aguilar showed why he was worth the gamble.
Let’s break it down.
Joey Aguilar: A Big Arm, Big Numbers, and a Few Bumps
Aguilar’s stat line was the kind Tennessee fans had been waiting to see since the Hendon Hooker days. He completed 258 of 356 passes for 3,444 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He wasn’t much of a dual-threat-just 104 rushing yards and three scores on the ground-but what he brought was a vertical passing game that had been missing from the Vols’ offense.
The Antioch, California native consistently pushed the ball downfield, showing a willingness to take shots and the arm talent to make them count. His accuracy in the intermediate game helped unlock Tennessee’s passing attack in a way it hadn’t been since Hooker was slinging it around Neyland.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Aguilar came in with a reputation for turnovers, and that followed him to the SEC.
His 10 interceptions doubled the previous high under Josh Heupel at Tennessee. That kind of risk-taking is a double-edged sword-it can spark big plays, but it can also swing momentum the wrong way fast.
Still, Aguilar delivered some key moments, including a milestone win: Tennessee’s first victory in The Swamp in 22 years. That alone earned him a place in recent Vols lore.
Nico Iamaleava: Flashes of Talent, Familiar Frustrations
Back in California, Iamaleava’s season at UCLA was a mixed bag. He completed 208 of 323 passes for 1,928 yards, 13 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 11 games.
His most consistent weapon? His legs.
He rushed for 505 yards and four touchdowns, giving the Bruins a dynamic threat on the ground.
But many of the same issues that limited Iamaleava at Tennessee followed him to Westwood. He struggled with downfield accuracy and often bailed from the pocket too quickly when his first read wasn’t there. The tools are obvious-he’s mobile, athletic, and has a live arm-but the consistency and decision-making still need refinement.
Team Results: Vols Hold Steady, Bruins Collapse
Aguilar’s performance helped Tennessee stay afloat in a season that could’ve easily gone sideways. The Vols finished 8-4 (4-4 SEC), a record that doesn’t jump off the page, especially considering they didn’t beat a single FBS opponent with more than five wins. But they avoided disaster, which counts for something in a conference where the margin for error is razor-thin.
UCLA, on the other hand, unraveled quickly. The Bruins opened the season with four straight losses, including head-scratchers against UNLV and New Mexico.
That skid cost DeShaun Foster his job by the end of September. A brief midseason jolt-wins over Penn State, Michigan State, and Maryland-offered a glimmer of hope, but it didn’t last.
UCLA dropped its final five games, finishing 3-9 (3-6 Big Ten).
Looking Ahead
Aguilar has one more shot to leave his mark in the Music City Bowl before his eligibility runs out-unless there’s a rule change for former JUCO players. Iamaleava’s future is less certain. He still has two years of eligibility remaining, but whether he stays at UCLA, re-enters the portal, or takes his chances in the NFL Draft remains to be seen.
In the end, this quarterback “trade” didn’t just shuffle two players between programs-it reshaped two seasons. Aguilar gave Tennessee the stability it needed, even if it wasn’t spectacular.
Iamaleava got a fresh start, but the questions about his development persist. And as the portal continues to redefine college football, don’t be surprised if more of these unofficial swaps become the new normal.