Joel Klatt declares Tennessee the winner of Nico Iamaleava, Joey Aguilar trade

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt was very impressed with Joey Aguilar Saturday, despite Tennessee’s loss. And to sum it up, he claimed Tennessee won the “trade” for Nico Iamaleava, who went to UCLA, Aguilar’s old stomping grounds.

Funny enough, Aguilar was only there in the spring after transferring from Appalachian State. Once the Iamaleava NIL saga became unsalvageable, he transferred to UCLA, leading Aguilar to Tennessee.

It’s been nothing but success during a 2-1 start for Aguilar and Vols. The offense is highly explosive and things could be special later this year in Knoxville. 

“Aguilar was terrific in a loss,” Klatt said on his podcast. “Tennessee has got to be so thrilled, because guess what? You won the trade. I’m sure you all know that, but you won the trade. Aguilar is a total upgrade quarterback for Tennessee, and their wide receivers on the outside were incredible … They’ve got a really special offense with Josh Heupel. It’s explosive. Aguilar is a good fit. You won the trade. That’s a damn good football team. A damn good football team.”

Aguilar finished the 44-41 loss to Georgia 24-of-36 passing for 371 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for a touchdown.

Chris Brazzell II is part of that explosive offense, led by Aguilar. He had six catches for 177 yards and three touchdowns. Braylon Staley added nine catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Over the course of three games, Aguilar has 906 yards, nine touchdowns, two interceptions, a 66.3% completion percentage and a rushing touchdown.

This game led college football analyst Josh Pate to make a bold proclamation on Josh Pate’s College Football Show on Sunday night. The Iamaleava era at Tennessee is truly done and dusted. Page turned.

“I don’t know that the most diehard, optimistic Tennessee fan could have expected that, through three weeks, I mean Joey Aguilar was going to be called on to need to score a lot on Georgia and did,” Pate said. “At no point in his career, I don’t care if he played 10 more years in Knoxville, was Nico Iamaleava ever going to tote the jock of the performance that Joey Aguilar turned in yesterday. First time ever for that combination of words on the show, but I feel it was necessary.”

On the flip side of Joey Aguilar, Iamaleava has started 0-3 at UCLA. His coach has been fired. It’s hard to envision that exchange going much worse for him.