Tennessee football is still figuring out who its quarterback will be in 2026. By current rules, Joey Aguilar is out of eligibility after his lone season with the Vols, but is looking to be granted an additional year due to a pair of seasons spent at the junior college level.
However, on Sunday morning, college football insider Matt Zenitz delivered bad news. He said that, though nothing is final, it is ‘unlikely’ that Aguilar will be granted an additional year of eligibility. The waiver is still being pursued, but the Vols don’t have time to sit around as transfer quarterbacks are coming off the board.
It was a ruling from the NCAA that gave a waiver to former junior college players whose final year of eligibility was the 2024-25 season for one additional year of eligibility that made Aguliar eligible for the 2025 season in the first place. Since he played two seasons at the level, he argues that it should extend to one more season.
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Aguilar joined the Vols in the spring window after Nico Iamaleava took his spot at UCLA. With an abbreviated period to get adjusted, he had a productive year, throwing for 3,565 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran for four touchdowns across his 13 starts.
After his two years in junior college and before transferring to UCLA, then Tennessee, Aguilar played two seasons at Appalachian State. He rewrote the record book in 2023, before having a down year in 2024.
Now, Tennessee has two scholarship options at quarterback on its roster. The Vols could choose between redshirt-freshman George MacIntyre and true freshman five-star Faizon Brandon, or dip into the portal for next year’s starter.
Arizona State transfer Sam Leavitt has taken a mult-day trip to Knoxville through the portal, but hopped on a plane to Miami, where he just wrapped up another visit. He has a myriad of suitors and would be a likely expensive option. Missouri transfer Beau Pribula is the only other transfer UT has been tied to so far.
