If Josh Heupel had made a different choice in the spring, Tennessee could’ve been staring down a QB nightmare. When Nico Iamaleava made the surprise move to UCLA back in April, the Vols were suddenly left scrambling with no starting QB. Coaches had to pivot fast, and the transfer portal became their lifeline. Before they landed Joey Aguilar from UCLA, they explored other options, including one that could have brought up the toxic narrative in Knoxville again.

ESPN reported Tennessee’s interest in the Kansas State QB Avery Johnson then. But it never worked out as a K-State source told ESPN , “ We got a damned wall built around him. They better bring the Tennessee National Guard. ” Fast forward to the start of the 2025 season, and it’s easy to see why Josh H

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