Joey Aguilar, a former Tennessee quarterback, has closed the door on his college football career. This comes after a judge denied his request for a preliminary injunction to play a seventh season.
Aguilar is still enrolled at Tennessee. Now, he’s putting his energy into preparing for the NFL.
His journey through different colleges and the legal mess with the NCAA? Wild. But honestly, he seems pretty upbeat and ready for whatever comes next.
Joey Aguilar’s College Football Journey
Aguilar’s college football story isn’t your typical path. He started at San Francisco City College in 2019 and redshirted right away.
Then, COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 junior-college season. He ended up at Diablo Valley Community College for the 2021-22 seasons.
After that, he transferred again—this time to Appalachian State. He played there in 2023 and 2024.
Transfer to Tennessee
Spring of 2025 brought more changes. Aguilar left Appalachian State for UCLA, but things got complicated fast.
When UCLA picked up former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, Aguilar jumped back into the transfer portal. He landed at Tennessee in what court filings called a de facto trade for $1 million.
With the Vols last fall, Aguilar put up 3,565 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Not too shabby, honestly.
Legal Battle with the NCAA
Earlier this month, Aguilar filed a lawsuit against the NCAA. He wanted his time in junior college to not count against his eligibility clock.
Usually, athletes get five years to play four seasons. Aguilar spent four years in junior college before moving up to Division I for three more years.
An injunction before the 2025 season had let several players—like All-American quarterback Diego Pavia from Vanderbilt—return to play. It was a brief window of hope for guys in Aguilar’s situation.
Denied Preliminary Injunction
Knox County Chancellor Christopher Heagerty, who happens to be a Tennessee fan, denied Aguilar’s request for a preliminary injunction. If the judge had ruled differently, Aguilar could’ve made about $2 million this year playing for Tennessee.
Instead, he’s decided to drop the legal fight. No more attempts to play college ball.
Focus on the NFL
Now, it’s all about the NFL for Aguilar. He won’t be throwing at the NFL Scouting Combine, though—recent surgeries to remove benign tumors from his right biceps and shoulder are keeping him sidelined for now.
He’s aiming to start throwing again after the combine. If all goes well, he’ll show off at Tennessee’s pro day on March 31.
Preparation and Recovery
“I’ve been working out and rehabbing,” Aguilar said. He sounds eager, maybe even a little restless, but definitely ready for what’s next.
Conclusion
Joey Aguilar’s path through college football hasn’t exactly been smooth. He’s faced plenty of hurdles, from his early days at junior college to tough legal fights with the NCAA.
Still, Aguilar’s grit and determination keep shining through. Now, as the NFL draft looms, he’s got his eyes on the next big thing—whatever that may be.
Curious about the full story or want to dig deeper into Aguilar’s future? You can check out the article on The Athletic.
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