College football doesn’t do trades. There were once NLIs, since replaced by NIL contracts, which are the equivalent of one-year free agent deals in the year 2025. With that said, Tennessee and UCLA may end up pulling off the equivalent of one.
Not long after Nico Iamaleava and the Bruins made their union official, news broke that the Volunteers were one of UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar’s top choices, along with Tulane and Wake Forest.
“Tennessee is expected to have interest in UCLA QB Joey Aguilar when he officially enters the portal later today, sources tell (Chris Low),” ESPN’s Max Olson wrote.
“The Vols and Bruins swapping starters would be quite an ending to this ordeal.”
Coincidentally, the Green Wave was mentioned as an Iamaleava landing spot, but was allegedly never a serious suitor.
Low added that talks between Aguilar and the Volunteers are moving quickly, and the two sides are meeting on Monday.
Joey Aguilar is Tennessee football’s best possible leader
Aguilar is an effective potential leader for Tennessee. He, like head coach Josh Heupel and every returning player in the locker room, has a chip on his shoulder because of Iamaleava. Aguilar was promised the world in Westwood. The Vols promised Iamaleava the world.
There’s mutual heartbreak with a shared muse. Perhaps spite can drive a winning culture on Rocky Top.
Something has to, for Heupel’s sake.
Five years into his head coaching tenure, going backwards isn’t acceptable. Regardless of the reason.