Nico Iamaleava saga: Tennessee brings in UCLA QB: report

A day after Nico Iamaleava made headlines by announcing his departure from Tennessee to join UCLA, a surprising quarterback “trade” has taken place. According to ESPN, Joey Aguilar, who recently transferred to UCLA from Appalachian State, will now be heading to Knoxville to join the Volunteers.

The saga surrounding Iamaleava’s decision to leave Tennessee was centered around a reported dispute over NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) negotiations. It was reported that Iamaleava was seeking a deal worth $4 million for the upcoming season, following his success in leading Tennessee to the College Football Playoff last year. This move sent shockwaves through college football as he became the first player to hold out from a program for a bigger payout.

On the other hand, Aguilar, who played last season at Appalachian State, decided to make the move earlier in the offseason. However, with Iamaleava confirming his move to UCLA, Aguilar found himself in a position to switch to Tennessee. Aguilar brings with him impressive stats, having thrown for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns in his last two seasons.

Iamaleava’s father, Nic Iamaleava, denied claims that his son was pushing for more NIL money before the season, calling it “bulls—.” Despite the drama surrounding his departure, Iamaleava’s on-field performance speaks for itself, as he threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns last season.

It will be interesting to see how Aguilar fits in with the Volunteers and how Iamaleava performs at UCLA. Both quarterbacks have shown promise in their respective careers, and their moves to new programs will undoubtedly shake up the college football landscape.

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