UCLA head coach Deshaun Foster had a specific concern about QB Joey Aguilar before former Vols QB Nico Iamaleava joined the Bruins

The Tennessee Vols and the UCLA Bruins pulled off a de facto quarterback trade earlier this offseason. 

Nico Iamaleava, who spent his first two college seasons in Knoxville, left Tennessee for UCLA in April. 

As a result of that move, Joey Aguilar, an Appalachian State transfer who joined UCLA after the 2024 season, transferred to Tennessee. 

Aguilar will battle redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre for the starting quarterback job during fall camp. 

Iamaleava, meanwhile, is locked in as the starting quarterback at UCLA. 

One reason why UCLA was in the market for a quarterback is because Bruins head coach Deshaun Foster wasn't comfortable with Aguilar's progress during spring practice. 

According to The Athletic, Foster wasn't sure about Aguilar's chemistry with the Bruins' wide receivers. And he had concerns about Aguilar's film study habits. 

"UCLA had brought in Appalachian State transfer QB Joey Aguilar last winter in hopes he could spark the offense, but halfway through spring, Foster wasn’t sold on his quarterback’s connection to the receivers and his film study habits," wrote The Athletic's Bruce Feldman on Thursday. 

I guess we'll see in a few weeks/months if the concerns about Aguilar were valid. 

Tennessee kicks off fall camp on July 30, at which point Vols fans will get their first look at Aguilar throwing passes in a UT uniform.