Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar is fighting for another year of eligibility with the Volunteers, and on Wednesday, some important news broke. Aguilar has been granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the NCAA. The injunction hearing for Aguilar is set for this Friday.
The NCAA has allowed other players, such as Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia, a full four years of NCAA eligibility based on not counting junior college years against them. The inconsistency of the NCAA in applying its rules will be a focus of Aguilar’s lawsuit, along with those filed by other similarly situated athletes.
Aguilar filed a lawsuit arguing for an extra year of eligibility earlier in the week. This restraining order gets him one step closer to allowing him to play at Neyland Stadium this year as opposed to going pro.
“After a breakout season as the Volunteers’ quarterback in 2025, the NCAA is blocking Aguilar from playing a fourth year of Division I football – depriving Tennessee of a gifted quarterback and robbing Aguilar of millions in compensation,” Aguilar’s complaint says. Aguilar transferred from UCLA to Tennessee without ever playing a down for the Bruins.
Aguilar was a key to Tennessee’s offensive success last year. He was set to play for UCLA in 2025, but after former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava transferred to the Bruins, Aguilar re-entered the portal and chose the Vols. He finished the season with 3,565 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Aguilar’s lawsuit focuses on the fact he spent two years at the JUCO level, playing at Diablo Valley Community College before transferring to App State. Players have argued that years spent at the JUCO level should not count against their eligibility. It’s the same stance that granted Diego Pavia an extra year of eligibility with the Vanderbilt Commodores.
The Volunteers would love to have Aguilar back on the roster this season, and have saved NIL money and a spot for him. If Aguilar is denied the relief he seeks, the Vols will focus their attention on redshirt Freshman George MacIntyre and true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, two quarterbacks they recruited out of high school and were very highly rated prospects.
Steve Gill is the editor and publisher of TriStar Daily.
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