Tag: Tennessee Volunteers

Report: Vols QB Joey Aguilar has benign tumor removed

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joey Aguilar had surgery Friday to remove a benign tumor from his throwing arm, NFL Network reported.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior played through arm weakness this season caused by the tumor pressing on his biceps tendon and labrum, per the report.

Aguilar, 24, whose condition had not been disclosed, reportedly will need at least eight weeks to recover from Friday’s procedure.

Aguilar transferred to Knoxville after two seasons at Appalachian State and won the starting job for the 2025 season. In 13 games for the Volunteers (8-5), he completed 67.3% of his passes for 3,565 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 101 yards and four scores.

He passed for 121 yards and rushed for a touchdown in Tennessee’s 30-28 loss to Illinois in the Music City Bowl on Tuesday in Nashville, Tenn.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Tennessee parts ways with DC Tim Banks

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Tennessee reportedly fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks on Monday after the Volunteers gave up 28.8 points per game this season.

Linebackers coach William Inge is expected to take over as head coach Josh Heupel’s defensive coordinator for the Dec. 30 Music City Bowl against Illinois on Dec. 30.

The move comes one season after Banks, 53, was lauded for the team’s defense and was a finalist for the Broyles Award that is given out each season to the top assistant coach in the nation.

After last season, Tennessee extended Banks’ contract through 2028.

Tennessee (8-4) was 14th in the SEC in scoring defense and total defense (395.3 yards per game) this season. The defensive issues were particularly evident in pass defense where they were next to last in the SEC with 248.6 yards allowed.

The Volunteers started the season 5-1 before losing to a trio of ranked teams over their last six regular-season games, including a 45-24 loss to No. 14 Vanderbilt on Nov 29.

Banks has been at Tennessee since 2021 after spending five seasons as Penn State’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. He also has served as an assistant at Ferris State, Bowling Green, Memphis, Maryland, Central Michigan, Cincinnati and Illinois since 1996.

–Field Level Media

Nov 1, 2025; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) passes the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

John Mateer, No. 18 Oklahoma hold off No. 14 Tennessee

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John Mateer rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown and threw for 159 to lead No. 18 Oklahoma to a 33-27 win over No. 14 Tennessee on Saturday in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Tate Sandell kicked four field goals — three longer than 50 yards — to tie a Sooners record as Oklahoma (7-2, 3-2 SEC) kept its College Football Playoff hopes alive.

The Volunteers (6-3, 3-3) lost despite 393 yards passing and three touchdowns from Joey Aguilar.

Aguilar hit Mike Matthews for a 15-yard touchdown with 1:56 left to pull Tennessee within two.

The Sooners recovered the onside kick, but the game still wasn’t over.

On the next play, running back Xavier Robinson broke free and had an open path to the end zone, but he stopped himself just short of the goal line to give Oklahoma a chance to run out the clock.

But the Sooners didn’t, instead scoring on Mateer’s 1-yard run on the next play.

Tennessee kicked a field goal with 47 seconds left, but Oklahoma recovered another onside kick, and the Sooners ran out the clock.

Robinson finished with 16 carries for a career-high 115 yards and a touchdown.

Oklahoma grabbed the lead for what proved to be for good on Robinson’s short touchdown run late in the third quarter, then made it a two-possession game on Sandell’s 55-yarder with 11:05 remaining.

Despite being outgained 255-99 in the first half, Oklahoma led 16-10 at the break thanks to three first-half turnovers by Tennessee.

The Vols got off to a hot start, scoring on the opening drive on Aguilar’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Staley, then forced a punt and quickly drove deep into Oklahoma territory.

But then on first down from the Sooners’ 24, Owen Heinecke hit Aguilar’s arm and forced the ball loose. R Mason Thomas scooped up the ball one-handed and rambled 71 yards for a touchdown.

Thomas was still engaged in a block with Tennessee tight end Miles Kitselman when he secured the ball, then drug Kitselman down the field nearly 25 yards before breaking free and rumbling to the end zone.

Thomas’ fumble return, the longest in Oklahoma history, was a costly one, though.

Thomas suffered a hamstring injury on the play and nearly stepped out of bounds as he worked to stay on his feet. Thomas did not return.

The Sooners outgained the Vols 252-201 in the second half.

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Chris Brazzell II (17) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Braylon Staley (14) during the first quarter Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Joey Aguilar tosses 3 TDs as No. 17 Tennessee outscores Kentucky

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Joey Aguilar scorched Kentucky’s defense for 396 passing yards, Edrees Farooq recorded a pick-six and the No. 17 Tennessee Volunteers claimed their border battle over the Wildcats in a 56-34 blowout on Saturday night in Lexington, Ky.

Aguilar went 20 of 26 with three touchdowns for the Volunteers (6-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference). The transfer quarterback had five passes that went at least 35 yards in the school’s fifth straight win in the series.

Chris Brazzell II had four receptions for 138 yards and a score. Mike Matthews caught six passes for 107 yards and a TD. Braylon Staley totaled 105 yards on six catches. DeSean Bishop logged two of Tennessee’s four rushing scores.

Cutter Boley was 26 of 35 for 330 yards with a career-high five touchdowns and an interception for the Wildcats (2-5, 0-5).

DJ Miller had five catches for 120 yards and two TDs, while Kendrick Law had two for 103 yards and a score. J.J. Hester caught two TD passes.

The teams combined for 980 yards of offense.

The Volunteers struck quickly in the matchup against their bitter rival, going 75 yards in just four plays to take a 7-0 lead. Aguilar tossed a 35-yard post pass to Brazzell.

Tennessee’s defense chipped in when Farooq made a spectacular play off the left edge. The defensive back deflected Boley’s pass then snared the ball that he brought back 45 yards for the squad’s fifth defensive score.

Boley redeemed himself 37 seconds later with a pass to Law, who sprinted 71 yards.

Ahead by the one touchdown, Tennessee proceeded to create separation with two more TDs for a 28-7 lead on short runs by Star Thomas and Bishop. The latter was set up by linebacker Jadon Perlotte’s fumble recovery deep inside Kentucky territory.

Lined up in the slot, Miller caught a 56-yarder from Boley to make it 28-14 just over a minute later. The Wildcats trimmed it to one score on the freshman quarterback’s 3-yard toss to Hester.

The explosive half ended with Aguilar zipping a 13-yard TD to Ethan Davis for a 35-21 halftime edge.

In the second half, Aguilar found Matthews on a 62-yard bomb before Peyton Lewis’ 2-yard TD run pushed the lead to a commanding 49-21.

Miller and Bishop swapped scores before Boley found Hester and the final three-touchdown advantage for the visitors.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) during the Aflac Kickoff Game between the Volunteers and Syracuse held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on August 30, 2025.

No. 22 Tennessee missing key pieces as East Tenneseee St. visits

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Tennessee coach Josh Heupel just wants his team to get better when the No. 22 Volunteers host East Tennessee State on Saturday.

The Volunteers (1-0) are coming off a 45-26 win over Syracuse last Saturday.

“We had a bunch of yards and a bunch of points so now we just need to work on constant growth,” Heupel said Monday. “We are all chasing perfection, but we know that is probably not going to happen. So we just need to take a jump by unit and by individuals.”

The Volunteers were led by senior quarterback Joey Aguilar who threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns.

“Me personally, as an athlete, I thought I could have done better,” Aguilar said. “Our offensive line kept me clean and did a great job with the run game.”

Senior running back Star Thomas gained 92 yards on 12 carries and Brayton Staley led the team in receiving with four catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.

Heupel was a little concerned by his defense, which came out flat in the second half and ended up giving up 377 yards to the Orange.

Tennessee led 38-14 in the third quarter, however, so many of those yards came with the game decided.

The Volunteers lost starting cornerback Rickey Gibson III to an arm injury in the second quarter. The defense was already playing without top cornerback Jermod McCoy, who tore his ACL in January. Tennessee is hoping he will be back later this month.

Heupel has not specified the nature of Gibson’s arm injury, just that he will miss “extended time.”

Gibson had 32 tackles, five pass breakups and a forced fumble last season.

Tennessee will lean on Colorado transfer Colton Hood, who had a fumble recovery for a touchdown and three pass breakups in the opener, as well as freshman Ty Redmond and others at cornerback.

Volunteers defensive tackle Jaxson Moi, who started the Syracuse game, will miss the contest with a left arm injury, but Heupel said that he’s expected back soon.

East Tennessee State (1-0) is coming off a solid opener, a 45-17 win over Murray State last Saturday.

The Buccaneers scored five rushing touchdowns and finished with 392 yards on the ground and 572 total yards.

Senior Devontae Houston led the way with 128 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns.

“I’m proud of the way we blocked on the perimeter,” said Buccaneers coach Will Healy. “If we are going to run as much as we do, we have to have receivers who can block.”

Senior quarterback Cade McNamara, who played at Michigan and Iowa before joining East Tennessee State this season, completed 12 of 17 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown.

The defense held Murray State to 34 yards rushing.

Healy is well aware that the Volunteers will be a whole different story.

“It is an honor to go play there,” said Healy, the Buccaneers’ third coach in as many seasons. “They are one of the top teams with top level talent. We will be playing in front of 107,000 people in a national TV game. It is great exposure for our program. So the players know they must perform for our program.”

-Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; General view of a Tennessee Volunteers helmet prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Linebacker JP Peace, grandson of Phillip Fulmer, commits to Volunteers

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The grandson of national champion head coach and former Tennessee Volunteers athletic director Phillip Fulmer is the Vols’ first commitment in the Class of 2027.

Linebacker J.P. Peace, a rising high school junior, announced his commitment to Tennessee via social media on Monday.

Peace’s grandfather won six SEC East titles and the 1998 national championship with the Vols, compiling a 152-52 record over 17 seasons. Fulmer was also the school’s athletic director from 2017-21.

Peace’s father, Robert Peace, is also connected to Tennessee football, having played linebacker for the Volunteers from 2000-03.

“Naturally, Tennessee was the leading school for him,” Robert Peace told ESPN. “We encouraged him to visit other places and he did that. But Tennessee was the place for him and not just because of the family legacy here.”

J.P. Peace, who is not currently ranked by ESPN or 247Sports, is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound linebacker at Knoxville West High School, located less than three miles from the university.

“I mean, it’s really going to be, like, an unreal experience knowing that I’m following in my dad’s footsteps a little bit in that way,” J.P. Peace told GoVols247. “I’m excited to do that.”

He reportedly held offers from Florida State, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt.

“He’s very high on (inside linebackers) coach William Inge,” the elder Peace said. “He’s done a great job recruiting JP, and we believe he’s not only going to make him a better player, but a better person for after football. So that had a big impact on this decision to do this this early.”

–Field Level Media

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) looks for an open receiver during the NCAA college football playoff game against Ohio State on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio.

Reports: QB Nico Iamaleava headed to UCLA

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It didn’t take long for quarterback Nico Iamaleava to find a new home.

Days after Iamaleava entered the transfer portal following a disagreement with Tennessee over his name, image and likeness money, multiple reports indicate the former Vols starter is headed to UCLA.

Iamaleava is from Southern California and went to high schools in Downey, Calif., and Long Beach, Calif., before heading to Tennessee with an NIL deal for $8 million over four years.

But after a season in which he threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns, with Tennessee going 10-3 and making the College Football Playoff, Iamaleava didn’t show up for practice last week and eventually decided to transfer.

“It’s the state of college football,” Volunteers coach Josh Heupel said last week. “At the end of the day, no one is ever bigger than the program. That includes me too.”

UCLA, in its first year in the Big Ten with new head coach Deshaun Foster, went 5-7 after a 1-5 start.

Bruins senior quarterback Ethan Garbers threw for 2,727 yards with 16 touchdowns and a conference-high 11 interceptions.

UCLA did bring in a transfer QB, Joey Aguilar of Appalachian State, this offseason. Aguilar passed for 6,740 yards with 56 TDs and 24 INTs in two seasons with the Mountaineers.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) passes the ball against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Down 14 early, No. 8 Tennessee rallies past Vanderbilt

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Nico Iamaleava threw for 257 yards and four touchdowns as No. 8 Tennessee stormed back from an early deficit to beat host Vanderbilt 36-23 in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday.

Two of those scoring strikes went to Dont’e Thornton (three catches, 118 yards) while Dylan Sampson added 178 rushing yards on 25 carries.

Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) held Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia to 8-of-17 passing for 104 yards and outsnapped (73-49) and outgained (538-232) the Commodores (6-6, 3-5).

The Vols won’t play in the SEC title game, but likely clinched a College Football Playoff berth and possibly a first-round home game.

Vanderbilt got 17 first-quarter points against the Vols, who’d given up just over 13 points a game. Tennessee scored 29 unanswered points starting with the second quarter until Pavia found Richie Hoskins with a 31-yard touchdown with 5:53 to play.

The Vols picked up where they left off in the first half as Iamaleava found Mike Matthews for a 14-yard TD pass with 8:43 left in the third for a 31-17 lead.

Tennessee’s Jackson Ross, punting for the first time all day, pinned the Commodores at their 4. Two plays later, the Vols tackled Sedrick Alexander for a safety.

Max Gilbert hit a 22-yard field goal on the Vols’ ensuing drive for a 19-point lead.

Tennessee averaged 10.3 yards per play and didn’t punt in the first half, but led just 24-17 thanks to turnovers (a 2-1 deficit), penalties (seven for 55 yards) and a Vanderbilt special teams touchdown.

Vanderbilt’s Junior Sherrill opened the game with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and after CJ Taylor forced a Sampson fumble that Nick Rinaldi pounced on at Tennessee’s 26, Alexander scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to put the Commodores up 14-0 just 4:38 in.

Iamaleava found Thornton for touchdown throws of 28 and 86 yards, and then hit Miles Kitselman with 22 seconds left in the first half, giving Tennessee its first lead.

Vanderbilt’s Brock Taylor hit a 32-yard field goal with 4:01 remaining in the first quarter, but the Vols scored the half’s final 17 points, starting with Gilbert’s 50-yard field goal, which hit the crossbar and bounced over.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) runs with the ball during a college football game between Tennessee and Mississippi State at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.

No. 7 Tennessee pulls away late to finish off Mississippi State

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Nico Iamaleava threw two touchdown passes in the first half before leaving with an injury, and Dylan Sampson rushed for his 20th score of the season Saturday night as No. 7 Tennessee stopped Mississippi State 33-14 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Iamaleava completed 8 of 13 passes for 174 yards but didn’t return for the second half after sustaining an upper-body injury late in the second quarter. However, the Volunteers (8-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) led 20-7 at the half and weren’t truly threatened by the Bulldogs (2-8, 0-6).

Sampson collected 149 yards on 30 carries, going over the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career. Tennessee rolled up 452 total yards, split almost equally between rushing (240) and passing (212).

Freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. had a rough night for Mississippi State, hitting just 10 of 26 passes for 92 yards with an interception. The Volunteers’ defense applied steady pressure, notching four sacks.

Tennessee has tied Texas A&M for the SEC lead, a half-game ahead of Texas. The Volunteers can wrap up a spot in the SEC title game next month by winning next week at Georgia and on Nov. 30 at Vanderbilt.

Tennessee took a quick 7-0 lead just over three minutes into the game when Iamaleava and Squirrel White hooked up for a 34-yard strike. It became 14-0 at the 13:35 mark of the second quarter when Iamaleava started a drive by finding Dont’e Thornton for a 73-yard touchdown.

The Bulldogs got on the board with 5:47 left when Davon Booth, who rushed for 125 yards on 20 attempts, capped a march of nearly eight minutes with a 3-yard scoring jaunt. But Tennessee kicker Max Gilbert converted field goals of 24 and 38 yards in the final minute to make the halftime margin 13.

Gilbert boomed a 51-yarder at the 7:59 mark of the third quarter, before Johnnie Daniels ripped off an 18-yard touchdown run on Mississippi State’s next drive to pull the Bulldogs within 23-14.

Sampson answered with a 33-yard scoring burst with 3:31 remaining in the third, and Gilbert nailed a 38-yard field goal with 8:14 left in the game to cap the scoring.

–Field Level Media