Anonymous SEC coach claims Tennessee takes a step back with Joey Aguilar vs. Nico Iamaleava

The Tennessee Volunteers became the talk of the college football world earlier this spring when star quarterback Nico Iamaleava opted to transfer to UCLA after a failed NIL renegotiation. That led to what many described as college football’s first “trade” as Bruins QB and former Appalachian State transfer Joey Aguilar re-entered the portal only to land in Knoxville.

It’s because of Tennessee’s surprise spring shakeup at the most important position on the field that opposing SEC coaches aren’t exactly sold on the Vols making a second-straight College Football Playoff appearance in 2025.

“They’re going to take a step back and won’t be a playoff team this season, but the quarterback play won’t be awful,” one anonymous opposing SEC coach told Athlon Sports about Tennessee.

With Iamaleava leading the way, last season’s Volunteers (10-3, 6-2 SEC) backed into an at-large Playoff bid — the program’s first-ever CFP appearance — without having to play in the SEC Championship game. Of course, it was a quick one-and-done appearance as eventual national champion Ohio State demolished Tennessee, 42-17, in the eight-vs. nine-seed matchup.

But with Iamaleava now in LA, another anonymous SEC coach believes the Vols actually regressed at quarterback after getting the shortend of the Aguilar-Iamaleava trade.

“Losing Nico [Iamaleava] isn’t good. They’re not replacing him with a more talented quarterback, and they’re losing the QB who ran their system in a playoff game,” the anonymous opposing SEC coach told Athlon. “But because of the way everything went down, I don’t think anyone blames the program or Josh [Heupel], and with the turnover on defense, Nico leaving makes a transition year a lot easier to stomach.”

Anonymous opposing SEC coach on Tennessee without Nico Iamaleava: ‘The offense won’t fall off a cliff’

In his first season as Tennessee’s QB1, Iamaleava showed flashes of being the five-star quarterback the Vols recruited in 2022, throwing for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns to just five interceptions on 63.8-percent passing. He also added 358 rushing yards and three scores on the ground.

Meanwhile, Aguilar accounted for 3,003 yards and 23 touchdowns to 14 interceptions on 55.9-percent passing in 11 games at Appalachian State before transferring to UCLA. Aguilar also added 207 rushing yards and two scores on the ground.

But, while all eyes in Knoxville will be on Tennessee’s quarterback position given the offseason turmoil, other opposing SEC coaches believe the Vols’ success in 2025 could be dependant on other positions.

“The offense won’t fall off a cliff; that system is effective at adjusting for personnel, even the quarterback,” another SEC coach told Athlon.

“The bigger question, even after Nico, is replacing the defensive starters who carried them in big games,” a fourth SEC coach told Athlon. “The secondary is legit and probably their strength right now.”

Suffice it to say, just based on the split opinions from various opposing league coaches, Tennessee will have its work cut out for them just to once again be in the mix for a Playoff spot, whether Aguilar proves to be a serviceable replacement for Iamaleava or not.