The college football quarterback carousel continues its dizzying spin as UCLA’s Joey Aguilar has announced his entry into the transfer portal. Just four months after transferring from Appalachian State, where he amassed an impressive 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns over two seasons, Aguilar finds himself caught in a high-stakes game of musical chairs.
Aguilar’s sudden decision comes in direct response to former Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava’s arrival in Westwood. The former App. State standout, who has already built rapport with his new UCLA teammates, now faces a crowded QB room. With the spring transfer portal window closing Friday, April 25, Aguilar must act quickly to secure his future team.
UCLA Transfer QB Joey Aguilar Enters Portal Following Nico Iamaleava’s Arrival
The situation exploded overnight when former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava announced his commitment to UCLA on April 20. The bombshell announcement came after Tennessee released Iamaleava following unsuccessful NIL negotiations, where reports indicate he sought approximately $4 million from the Volunteers.
UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar tells ESPN that he intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal later today. He has one year of eligibility remaining. He threw for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns in two years as a starter at Appalachian State. pic.twitter.com/rbyIrTya23
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 21, 2025
Sources close to Aguilar reveal his representatives began quietly gauging interest from other schools as early as April 16, anticipating Iamaleava’s arrival. Despite earning praise from UCLA offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri for his adaptability during spring practices, Aguilar now seeks guaranteed playing time that UCLA can no longer promise.
The timing creates significant challenges for both Aguilar and interested programs. With just days remaining before the April 25 portal deadline, decisions must be made quickly. Teammates have reportedly urged Aguilar to stay and compete, valuing his leadership over four months with the program.
UCLA’s quarterback room transformed from settled to chaotic in mere hours. Aguilar, who demonstrated remarkable durability with back-to-back 3,000-plus yard seasons at App. State now faces uncertainty, despite his proven collegiate production of 6,760 passing yards and 56 touchdowns against 24 interceptions.
Top 5 Landing Spots for Transfer QB Joey Aguilar
Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee offers Aguilar a perfect storm of opportunity after Iamaleava’s departure. According to The Athletic‘s David Ubben, Josh Heupel’s “Hurry-Up No-Huddle” system aligns with Aguilar’s 9.1 yards per attempt with the Mountaineers. The depth chart features only inexperienced options in freshman Jake Merklinger (4-star) and Gaston Moore (UCF transfer).
Per 247Sports‘ Blake Toppmeyer, Aguilar would benefit from elite targets in WRs Squirrel White (67 catches in 2023) and Bru McCoy. Heupel’s track record with Hendon Hooker suggests strong development potential.
North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina’s new offensive coordinator, Chip Lindsey, blends air raid concepts with gap scheme runs, potentially maximizing Aguilar’s 68.3% completion rate against blitz packages. The shift from App State’s single-high looks to full-field progressions represents an adjustment, but similar mesh point timing in the play-action game eases transition.
The Tar Heels’ quarterback room features Max Johnson (LSU/Texas A&M) with 26 career starts but limited mobility. Proven weapons in WRs J.J. Jones (711 yards in 2023) and Nate McCollum provide established targets.
Syracuse Orange
Syracuse brings OC Jeff Nixon’s hybrid system, which mixes pro-style play action with spread elements, mirroring App State’s 2022 scheme.
Aguilar’s 14 touchdowns against Cover 3 defenses fit Nixon’s frequent 3×1 receiver sets, though he would need to adjust to Syracuse’s planned 40% under-center snaps compared to App State’s 85% shotgun preference.
The Orange face a genuine quarterback need with only freshman Jakhari Williams (3-star) and Georgia Tech transfer Zach Pyron (2 career starts). The 2025 schedule offers manageable early tests against Ohio and Stanford. Syracuse’s new $70 million football complex signals a commitment to ACC competitiveness.
Tulane Green Wave
Under new head coach Jon Sumrall, Tulane maintains a balanced attack (55% pass/45% run) with play-action bootlegs that match Aguilar’s strengths. His 8.4 yards per attempt on play action in 2023 aligns with Tulane’s misdirection focus, though he would need to adapt to 11-person (3WR) sets requiring quicker reads than App. State’s 12-person base.
The Green Wave quarterback situation features Kai Horton and Ty Thompson, who combined for just 9 TDs against 8 INTs last season. Aguilar would benefit from proven players in WR Chris Brazzell II and RB Makhi Hughes.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Wake Forest’s distinctive slow-mesh RPO system aligns with Aguilar’s 1.5-second release, though it requires new patience on mesh point timing. His 68% completion rate on intermediate throws (10-19 yards) perfectly suits Wake’s preference for deep crossing routes, though he would need to adjust to 20% more pre-snap motion than App State employed.
The quarterback competition features Michael Kern (58% career completion) and freshman Jeremy Hecklinski (3-star), neither of whom matches Aguilar’s resume. Clawson’s staff previously developed Sam Hartman (9,266 career yards), offering proven quarterback development.
The clock ticks loudly for Aguilar as the April 25 transfer deadline approaches. While teammates have reportedly urged him to stay and compete at UCLA, Iamaleava’s arrival fundamentally alters his path to playing time. Aguilar’s camp must prioritize either film-friendly schemes for NFL draft capital or guaranteed playing time for visibility.
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