Tennessee seems to have its quarterback for the future in Joey Aguilar after former Vols QB Nico Iamaleava transferred to UCLA. As a result, Aguilar's odds for success have taken a big jump since announcing he will join Tennessee.
There are no guarantees that Aguilar will be the Vols' starting quarterback this fall, but he will likely be the leader in the clubhouse in the summer.
The hype around Aguilar, a lower-rated high school and transfer prospect, continues to grow beyond Nico's hype as they swap spots after a wild two weeks.
Aguilar was a star at Appalachian State, throwing for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns in his two years as the Mountaineers' quarterback. His Junior year went a little better statistically than his Senior year, but he has shown he has the potential to be a star in 2025.
Aguilar also seems to have the upper hand in the odds market. FanDuel Sportsbook has posted its Heisman odds for the upcoming season, and Aguilar has nearly twice as good odds to win the Heisman as Nico's odds.
On3 Sports reported that Aguilar's odds to win the Heisman are set at +4500, while Nico's odds are set at +8000 at UCLA.
NEW: Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar has nearly double the odds to win the Heisman as UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava, per @FDSportsbook🏆https://t.co/bvZkIMgAeM pic.twitter.com/HzUNSWUzCe
— On3 (@On3sports) April 22, 2025
It is unlikely either quarterback is in a spot this year to contend for the Heisman, but Tennessee's quarterback-friendly offensive system could open the door for a breakout year by Aguilar.
Aguilar's jump in Heisman odds is likely due to the players and team surrounding him. While Nico goes into a less ideal situation, Aguilar is a winner because of the quarterback drama leading him to Knoxville.
To set him up for success, he adopts a better roster, more weapons, and an experienced staff coaching a quarterback-friendly system.
That is why oddsmakers seem to believe Aguilar could have another big season at quarterback, this time as the Vols' quarterback.
He is unafraid to take shots, throw the deep ball, and try to thread the needle, which could be beneficial if he can do all of that in a smart and effective way.
Aguilar is expected to finish the semester at UCLA and will join the team on campus in June. He will join Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre in the QB room.