oey Aguilar is officially committed to the Tennessee Volunteers. His first message to the team and the fans made his intentions clear as he begins this new chapter in his career.
Aguilar delivered the message with his Instagram account on Tuesday.
“First, I want to thank God for guiding me through this journey and opening doors I could not have imagined. I’m excited to announce that I’m officially committed to the University of Tennessee.”
The former UCLA Bruins quarterback transferred to Tennessee after Nico Iamaleava went the other way following reported negotiations over an improved NIL contract with the Volunteers. Tennessee elected to part with Iamaleava after his missed a spring practice amid those negotiations.
Aguilar never played a game for UCLA, having previously transferred from Appalachian State. He is entering his final year of eligibility, but will face a quarterback battle at Tennessee.
Joey Aguilar (4) drops to throw a pass.
Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Jake Merklinger, who recently signed an improved contract with the Volunteers, and freshman George MacIntyre are also in the mix to succeed Iamaleava as the starter.
Aguilar, who reportedly had $1.2 million left on his deal at UCLA and, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, will receive a similar amount at Tennessee.
It’s clear Aguilar is looking forward to the challenge of earning a starting job with Tennessee in 2025.
