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Former Tennessee player pegs the moment that he claims he knew that former Vols QB Nico Iamaleava was 'hot garbage'

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Craig Smith | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 2:15 PM ET

Things went very differently for Tennessee's current and former starting quarterbacks on Saturday. Joey Aguilar had a good debut in the Vols' opener against Syracuse, which Tennessee won 45-26.

Things went very much the opposite for former UT QB Nico Iamaleava in Pasadena in his debut with the UCLA Bruins. The Utah Utes blew the doors off of the Bruins in the Rose Bowl 43-10, and the struggle on the field reflected every bit of that lopsided scoreline. Iamaleava was 11 of 22 passing for 136 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also ran 13 times for 47 yards.

Iamaleava has become a lightning rod of controversy and commentary on social media, even as he took the field for the Bruins across the country. That includes comments from former players like ex-Tennessee WR Da'Rick Rogers, who claims he knew when Iamaleava was "hot garbage" before he even arrived in Knoxville.

I told Yal Nico was hot garbage when I saw him in pajamas at that one 7on7. Football is a mentality sport. Was not a fit…
— Da'Rick Rogers (@darickrogers) September 2, 2025

That's a bit harsh (more than a bit, actually). I can't see how someone's outfit can necessarily be tied to their ability to play the game at a high level. There have been plenty of players who have showed up in all kinds of outfits/looks and succeeded, whether that's at the high school, college, or NFL level. Attire does not necessarily equate to mental acuity and fortitude for the sport.

What was true is that Nico looked just as uncertain and uncomfortable as he did in 2024 in his first game of 2025. The indecisiveness and the missed open throws that plagued him in Knoxville reared their ugly heads, as he had some misfires that negated big play opportunities.

Meanwhile, Aguilar had a strong first appearance for the Big Orange, completing 16/28 passes for 247 yards and 3 touchdowns. His signature moment came on a 73-yard bomb to Braylon Staley, who caught it in stride on the way to the end zone. It was a welcome departure from the struggles of the previous two seasons where Tennessee simply couldn't get the passing game on track for large stretches of the year.

As such, through Week 1, the Vols got the better end of the deal. And it had nothing to do with what either player was wearing.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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