Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar can statistically surpass Ex-Vol Nico Iamaleava with one simple stat
The Tennessee Volunteers lost quarterback Nico Iamaleava after a wild sequence just before the spring transfer portal window opened. The move was unexpected, but it happenedâinitially leaving Tennessee in a tough position. However, the Vols quickly pivoted and landed UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar.
âWhile not a match for Iamaleavaâs athleticism or potential and a bit too turnover-prone this past season, Aguilar has the experience and comfort level in a quarterback-driven scheme to keep Tennessee in the mix for a return to the playoff. Thatâs a pretty good on-the-fly signing given what the Volunteers lost in Iamaleava and the lack of options in the springtime portal,â USA Todayâs Paul Myerberg wrote.
With UCLA acquiring Iamaleava and Tennessee adding Aguilar, the move effectively marked the first âtradeâ in the modern college football era. It was an unprecedented turn of events, but Aguilar is seen as an ideal fit for Josh Heupelâs system.
âAguilar 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,â ESPNâs Chris Low wrote.
Aguilar is expected to get just one season under Heupel, and he enters as the presumed starter. Interestingly, that means both he and Iamaleava will end up having started just one season each in Heupelâs offense. If Aguilar wants to outperform Iamaleava, statistically at least, heâll need to meet this benchmark:
âWhile overall records aren’t always attributed to quarterback play, there is one statistic in particular that could deviate Aguilar and Iamaleava’s seasons. Should he throw for 3,000 yards and 20 or more touchdowns this season, Aguilar’s 2025 season would statistically be better than Iamaleava’s. The quarterback surpassed this mark in each of his two seasons at Appalachian State,â Sports Illustratedâs Christian Kirby wrote.
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Aguilar appears to be more proven than Iamaleava in terms of raw production, but playing in the SEC is a different challenge entirely. Whether heâs ready for that step remains to be seen. By seasonâs end, the comparison between the two will become much clearer.
