Right now and throughout the weekend, all eyes are going to be on quarterback Sam Leavitt. The 5-star transfer took a visit to LSU and Tennessee this week and he just made his way to Coral Gables for a last-minute trip with Miami.
Lane Kiffin pulls desperate move to land Sam Leavitt that Tennessee fans hated
For countless Tennessee supporters, Leavitt is No. 1 on the wishlist for the portal. However, plenty of signs are pointing to him picking LSU, with Lane Kiffin desperate to sign him. If that happens, will it be time for Josh Heupel and his staff to panic a bit in terms of a starting quarterback for 2026?
Not so fast. Reporter Adam Sparts provided quite the update on Friday, informing his readers that there's a meeting on Monday to discuss the NCAA eligibility case for former JUCO players. Aguilar and others are in a battle for an extra season. Could some good news be on the way there?
Judge has scheduled a meeting in Joey Aguilar's NCAA eligibility case in federal court.
— Adam Sparks (@AdamSparks) January 9, 2026
But is it too late for the Tennessee QB as the transfer portal winds down?https://t.co/G0Exf02iaS
Tennessee football still has hope Joey Aguilar can return for the 2026 season
"On Jan. 12, Judge William Campbell, NCAA attorneys and lawyers representing Aguilar and other players will hold a conference call, according to court records obtained by Knox News," Sparks wrote in his piece on this latest Aguilar update. "The reason for the meeting is unknown, but it's part of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s federal lawsuit against the NCAA that challenges the association's eligibility rules involving former junior college players. Aguilar is among the plaintiffs hoping for the court to ultimately strike down those NCAA rules."
With that meeting set for Monday, it could provide the Vols with the news they're hoping for just in time too. The portal will be closing next Friday, meaning Heupel is hoping to get things figured out ASAP at quarterback. If Aguilar gets an extra year, then it's a win-win for everyone.
If he doesn't get that extra year of eligibility, then the Vols might be left scrambling to add a veteran signal-caller. Missouri transfer Beau Pribula is also expected to visit Knoxville, so everyone will need to keep a close eye on him until the portal closes.
Yes, Leavitt would be the top choice, but if Aguilar is able to return, then sticking with him after his strong 2025 season would be the right call from Heupel. The former App State/UCLA QB was electric for Tennessee in Year 1 in the SEC, tossing for 3,565 yards and 24 touchdowns. Will he ball out once again for UT in '26? We'll find out soon enough.