Ex-Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava shocked the college football world when he missed a few spring practices with the Vols and later announced his decision to enter the transfer portal.
It was later reported that Iamaleava wanted more NIL money from Tennessee, which they declined, so he reached out to other programs for the same.
Most analysts and fans condoned Iamaleava’s decision to leave the Vols, as he had made a place for himself and had a real shot at winning. When he joined UCLA, the conversation only grew louder.
As Iamaleava joined UCLA, ex-Bruins quarterback Joey Aguilar ended up at Tennessee, which was the first college football trade. As Vols go into Week 4 with a 2-1 record, which includes a close loss to Georgia, and the Bruins stay 0-3, it’s clear to former college football coach Urban Meyer who won the trade.
“He quit football. He was a firefighter for a year. Think about that. He went to a junior college. Went to App State. I looked it up, and it’s not getting enough publicity. Non-recruited, junior college. App State. UCLA. UCLA makes the worst trade in the history of the trades,” Meyer proclaimed (via The Triple Option at 9:50).
“Tennessee lands this guy. I don’t know this guy, but he must be a monster. I was the first guy when Nico left, I said, ‘D-U-N dun. It’s over in Knoxville. How do you lose a quarterback with that talent?’ I was dead wrong. Dead wrong. That kid played his a** off. I know they lost, but he played his a** off,” he added.
Joey Aguilar’s Father Takes Playful Jab at Nico Iamaleava
Joey Aguilar’s dad, Jose Aguilar, made noise a week ago when he told On3’s Pete Nakos his true feelings about Nico Iamaleava.
Jose claimed that the Aguilar family doesn’t have any problems with the UCLA quarterback; if anything, they should thank Nico, as it’s because of him that Joey is in the position he is in.
Joey’s father also took a shot at Nico with a blunt statement, saying it’s evident which player got the better end of the deal if we look at the stats and the fans.
“We don’t have any problems with Nico,” Jose Aguilar said in an interview with Pete Nakos. “If anything, it’s thank you. Joey is in a great spot. That’s what I would say, thank you. He did what he decided to do. Everything that happened, happened. I think it’s clear who won the trade. Look at the fans and the stats. Everything happens for a reason. We’re not at Tennessee without Nico making the decisions he made.”
Tennessee will now play UAB in Week 4 at Neyland Stadium.
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