Joey Aguilar Eligibility: NCAA Hearing Features Tennessee Alum Attorney

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The fate of Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar’s eligibility for the 2026 football season remains in the hands of Chancellor Chris Heagerty after a preliminary injunction hearing concluded Friday in Knox County Chancery Court. Aguilar is suing the NCAA over its eligibility rules concerning former junior college players, seeking to regain a year of eligibility to play for the Volunteers.

The hearing, which lasted two hours, offered a surprising glimpse into the complexities of the case, highlighted by the NCAA’s own attorney, Taylor Askew, expressing his admiration for both Tennessee football and Aguilar himself. Despite his personal fandom, Askew argued against granting Aguilar another year of eligibility, stating that the Volunteers should not need to resort to legal action to field a player.

“I love Tennessee football. I’m from Knoxville. I grew up watching it. My kids watch him every game,” Askew said, according to reports from the hearing. “But at some point, when judges are looking at records like this, and in Tennessee we have to say, ‘Tennessee is better than this. We’re better than this. We don’t have to go to court to get our guy back. We don’t have to play somebody who is ineligible under the rules to win games. We don’t do that at Tennessee.’”

Askew continued, acknowledging Aguilar’s impact on the Tennessee community. “You’re a hero to kids in this city. Fantastic. And we can’t take that away from him. He will always have a home in Knoxville. We didn’t know who he was until Nico left. And then he came and it was wonderful,” he said, referring to former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava. “But that doesn’t mean we break the rules. It doesn’t mean the Vols get something everybody else doesn’t — unless and until the claim is proven. And until we do that, we play by the rules. And that’s all we’re asking.”

Aguilar transferred to Tennessee after Iamaleava transferred to UCLA, leading the Volunteers to an 8-5 record in 2025. His case centers on the argument that time spent in junior college should not count against an athlete’s NCAA eligibility clock, as junior colleges are not part of the NCAA structure. Aguilar began his collegiate career at City College of San Francisco in 2019, redshirting his first season and having his second season canceled due to COVID-19. He then spent two seasons at Diablo Valley College before transferring to Appalachian State in 2023.

Chancellor Heagerty has indicated he will issue a ruling “in very short order,” but court closures for the weekend and President’s Day on February 16 mean a decision is unlikely to come before then. If Heagerty grants the injunction, Aguilar would be eligible to play for the Volunteers in the 2026 season, with a successful appeal by the NCAA being the only likely path to reversing that decision. Conversely, a denial of the injunction would likely end Aguilar’s Tennessee career, leaving him to prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft.

This isn’t the first time Askew has found himself opposing Tennessee’s interests in court. He has previously represented the NCAA in cases involving Tennessee basketball player Zakai Zeigler, baseball player Alberto Osuna, and former quarterback Nico Iamaleava, demonstrating a consistent role in defending the NCAA’s eligibility standards.

The hearing concluded with a notable moment of cordiality, as Aguilar was seen with his arm around Askew while the two spoke, suggesting a level of mutual respect despite their opposing positions in the legal battle. The coming days will be critical as Heagerty deliberates, and the Tennessee faithful await a decision that could significantly impact the Volunteers’ prospects for the 2026 season.