A Tennessee state judge has dismissed the eligibility appeal of quarterback Joey Aguilar, effectively concluding his college football career. The ruling, issued on Friday in Knox County Chancery Court, prevents Aguilar from playing another season with the Tennessee Volunteers.
Aguilar”s legal team contended that his two seasons at Diablo Valley Community College in California should not count against the four years of eligibility allowed in NCAA Division I football. The 24-year-old athlete had played two years at Appalachian State prior to joining the Volunteers in 2024.
The ruling represents a significant setback for Tennessee, who now faces uncertainty at the quarterback position as they prepare for the upcoming season. Aguilar”s lawyers noted that he stood to earn approximately $2 million playing for the Volunteers this year, although it remains unclear if they plan to appeal the decision.
Aguilar is scheduled to participate in the NFL combine next week. The judge had previously granted him a temporary restraining order on February 4, indicating that Aguilar had shown a considerable chance of winning his case. This latest ruling represents a notable victory for the NCAA, which has encountered numerous legal challenges regarding its eligibility regulations.
In a separate case, a judge in Mississippi recently determined that Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss qualified for a medical redshirt, allowing him to compete for the Rebels this season. The NCAA issued a statement expressing gratitude for the court”s decision, emphasizing the importance of maintaining eligibility standards that safeguard the collegiate experience for current and future student-athletes.
During the hearing, NCAA attorney Taylor Askew, a Knoxville native, argued it was time for Aguilar to move on. “I love Tennessee football,” Askew said. “I”m from Knoxville. I grew up watching it. My kids watch him every game. But at some point, we have to say, “Tennessee is better than this. We don”t need to go to court to keep our player. We shouldn”t field an ineligible player to win games. We don”t do that at Tennessee.”
Aguilar was previously a co-plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against the NCAA filed by former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, which challenged the organization”s eligibility rules regarding junior college transfers. Aguilar later opted to pursue his case in state court, as a ruling in Pavia”s case was not anticipated until February 10, at the earliest. Pavia was granted a preliminary injunction allowing him to play for the Commodores in 2025, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting.
The NCAA Division I Board of Directors had approved a waiver in 2004 granting an additional year of eligibility to junior college transfers in similar situations to Pavia”s. Aguilar had also redshirted at the City College of San Francisco in 2019, with the subsequent season being canceled due to COVID-19.
After amassing 6,760 passing yards and 56 touchdowns in his two seasons at Appalachian State, Aguilar entered the transfer portal in December 2024. His initial plan was to join UCLA until former Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava transferred to the Bruins, prompting Aguilar to sign with Tennessee the following day. Last season, he completed 67.3% of his passes for 3,565 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, leading the Volunteers to an 8-4 record, including a 4-4 mark in the SEC.
With Aguilar”s departure, Jake Merklinger, his backup last season, has transferred to UConn, leaving redshirt freshman George MacIntyre as a potential starter. MacIntyre, ranked as the eighth-best pocket passer in ESPN”s Class of 2025, attempted just nine passes in two games last year. The Volunteers have also added Ryan Staub, who spent the past three seasons at Colorado, and signed Faizon Brandon, the No. 3 pocket passer in the Class of 2026.
