Vols QB Aguilar suing NCAA in Knox County for additional eligibility

Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar reportedly has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in Knox County. Knox News' Adam Sparks was the first to report the news late Monday afternoon. The development comes shortly after Aguilar had hired attorney Cam Norris to represent him and removed himself from the Diego Pavia lawsuit. The Pavia case is attempting to change eligibility rules so that junior college seasons wouldn't count towards NCAA eligibility. Currently, the NCAA rules state that student-athletes have five years to complete four seasons of play. "After a breakout season as the Volunteers' quarterback in 2025," Aguilar's complaint says according to Sparks, "the NCAA is blocking Aguilar from playing a fourth year of Division I football-depriving Tennessee of a gifted quarterback and robbing Aguilar of millions in compensation." Ahead of the 2025 campaign, Pavia's original lawsuit was awarded a temporary restraining order, allowing him to have the year of eligibility. In response, the NCAA issued a blanket waiver for all student-athletes for 2025 that had competed at the junior college level but otherwise would have no eligibility. Despite starting his college football career in 2019, Aguilar has only spent three seasons at NCAA schools, a key point in the complaint. "The NCAA generally lets athletes play four full seasons, and Aguilar has played only three," it reads, "but the NCAA arbitrarily counts the years he played in junior college, at a non-NCAA school, as years he played in the NCAA." Aguilar spent time at both City College of San Francisco and Diablo Valley in California before joining Appalachian State from 2023-24. He then spent last spring at UCLA, then came to Tennessee in what effectively became a trade involving Nico Iamaleava. The quarterback started all 13 games for the Vols after an open competition in fall camp. He threw for 3,565 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 67.3% of his throws. While no longer a part of the Pavia case, the suit still could have a bearing on Aguilar. Set to be heard in court on Feb. 10, the case could provide the framework for Knox County to handle the Aguilar case. The complaint to Knox County asks for the case to move quickly, due to Aguilar needing to know whether he should prepare for the upcoming NFL draft or to report to spring practice at Tennessee. Spring ball is set to open in mid-March, though an official open date has not been set. If Aguilar wins the suit, he will almost assuredly be the Vols' starting quarterback in 2026. According to Sparks, Tennessee has a roster spot and NIL money for Aguilar in the event of his return. Other quarterbacks on the UT roster are redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, true freshman Faizon Brandon, and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub. Norris, Aguilar's attorney, has previously won in court against the NCAA on behalf of Tennessee and Iamaleava. He also has represented President Donald Trump before the Supreme Court.