UAB coach Trent Dilfer says Joey Aguilar playing ‘significantly better’ than Nico Iamaleava in 2024
By Luke Greco
Published:
UAB head coach Trent Dilfer believes that the Tennessee Volunteers are getting much better quarterback play from Joey Aguilar than they got from Nico Iamaleava the past year.
The Vols are coming off a 44-41 overtime loss to No. 5 Georgia, and they turn their focus to their next opponent, UAB. The offense of the Vols has been spectacular this season. Their lowest-scoring game was last week, in which they put up 41 points against a Kirby Smart-led defense.
“The quarterback is playing, I think, better than the quarterback last year—significantly better,” Dilfer said this week.
From the eye test, most Tennessee and college football fans would agree. Aguilar has looked great so far this season, and Iamaleava has struggled with his new team, the UCLA Bruins, who are still looking for their first win of the season.
Even the numbers tell a very similar story. So far this season, Aguilar has thrown for 906 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. In his latest game against Georgia, Aguilar threw for 371 yards and 4 touchdowns. Through 3 games last year, Iamaleava had thrown for 698 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Against Georgia later in the season, Iamaleava threw for just 167 yards and no touchdowns.
The numbers and Dilfer would tell you that Tennessee is getting stronger quarterback play this year. Aguilar will look to stay hot as they host UAB this weekend for a 12:45 p.m. ET kickoff.
