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INDIANAPOLIS -- Joey Aguilar was on campus at Tennessee last week, focusing on preparation for next season with the Volunteers.
A week later, he's at the NFL combine, embarking on what he hopes is a successful NFL future.
The former Tennessee quarterback lost a court battle to secure an additional year of eligibility at UT for 2026. That decision, handed down on Feb. 20, effectively ended his college career and prompted a dramatic shift in focus for Aguilar.
"Waiting around, it gets a little stressful," Aguilar said. "But I finally got the answer that I was waiting for. And that's to pursue the NFL now, and I can put all my focus into that."
Aguilar was still enrolled in classes at Tennessee this semester, operating like a standard college athlete up until the court decision. Then, after the ruling, he pivoted and found himself in Indianapolis by Tuesday. Draft prospects do extensive preparation for combine interviews with NFL clubs, but Aguilar had virtually none.
"I just got thrown in there, but it's all natural, it's organic," he said. "So, I feel like the conversations I've been having have been really good and I'm excited to see where it lands."
Aguilar conceded that NIL earnings played a role in him pursuing another season of college football. His lawyers argued that his two seasons in junior college should not count toward his four year of NCAA eligibility. Aguilar played two seasons at Diablo Valley Community College in California before moving on to Appalachian State for two seasons and Tennessee for a single season in 2025.
He could have earned $2 million in NIL money in 2026 according to his attorneys. That could exceed what he stands to earn if he is a late-round selection in the draft.
"It's a big key to go out there and earn a lot of money for playing football, something I think everybody would want to do," Aguilar said. "But, like I said... the ultimate goal is the NFL and to go out there and have a full offseason and another season under that offense [at Tennessee], I think would have put me in a good situation."
Meanwhile, there's another situation unfolding with Aguilar. He is still recovering from a surgery to remove a benign tumor near his throwing shoulder that, he said, significantly impacted him during last season.
Aguilar said the tumor, which was discovered early in the season, was pulling on his biceps and his pectoral.
"I would have bad aching," he said. "My arm would kind of thump like a heartbeat [with] a hot burning type of feeling in my biceps... So throwing a lot, activating that biceps, activating that shoulder, made it super hard to throw."
Still, Aguilar threw for 3,565 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. Aguilar said he won't participate in combine workouts as he is still rehabbing but hopes to perform for scouts at Tennessee's pro day next month.
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