Tennessee landed transfer quarterback **Joey Aguilar** from Appalachian State after starter Nico Iamaleava left the program over compensation issues and other internal factors.
The Volunteers turned to the transfer portal to find an experienced replacement. Aguilar emerged as their top target.
**Aguilar threw for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns over the past two seasons at App State.** He’s also a capable runner who fits coach Josh Heupel’s offensive system.
“Aguilar fits what Tennessee is looking for, a proven starter with one year to play. He passed for 6,760 yards and 56 TDs last two years at App. State. Also a very capable runner. Heupel and Vols definitely looking for another QB,” ESPN’s Chris Low wrote.
Aguilar will compete with two other quarterbacks on Tennessee’s roster for the starting job.
On3’s JD PicKell believes Aguilar’s aggressive style makes him a better fit than Iamaleava for the Volunteers’ offense.
“And so I love that for Tennessee because it gives you an authoritative presence in your offense should he end up winning the job. It’s a very different personality playing quarterback for you than Nico Iamaleava from a play style perspective. Joey Aguilar is going to cut it loose, man. He’s going to let it rip,” Pickell said.
Pickell noted Aguilar’s willingness to throw deep passes compared to Iamaleava’s more cautious approach last season.
“he’s going to have a higher degree of connection on those deep balls than what Nico Iamaleava had this past season at Tennessee. That’s not to say Nico Iamaleava couldn’t have gotten there, but it was a projection, right? You were hoping it would eventually happen. How many times as a Tennessee fan were you feeling one of two things: either A, you’re sitting there and saying, ‘man, he was open, I wish Nico would have let it rip’, as one thought, or B, saying, ‘man, he was open, why did we not connect on that?”
The transfer gives Tennessee an experienced quarterback who’s already posted strong numbers at the FBS level. If Aguilar wins the starting job, his aggressive mentality could help the Volunteers return to being one of the nation’s top passing offenses under Heupel.
