The End of The Joey Aguilar Era

Tennessee football's quarterback plan for the future after Aguilar's court ruling

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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On the latest episode of The RTI Low-Down podcast, hosts Bob Baskerville and Chris Low discuss the court ruling regarding former Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar and what it means for the Volunteers' quarterback situation going forward. They also welcome VFL and SEC Network analyst Ron Slay to talk about the Tennessee basketball team's recent success and look ahead to the SEC Tournament.

Why it matters

The Joey Aguilar situation has been a major storyline for Tennessee football over the past year, and his departure from the program will have significant implications for the team's quarterback depth chart and future plans at the position. Additionally, Tennessee basketball is enjoying a strong season and the upcoming SEC Tournament will be an important event for the program.

The details

Aguilar, who started multiple games for Tennessee last season, was recently ruled ineligible by a court due to academic issues. This means the Volunteers will need to turn to other options at quarterback, including redshirt sophomore Tayven Jackson and incoming freshman Nicholaus Iamaleava. The podcast hosts also discuss the road ahead for Rick Barnes' basketball squad, which is looking to make a deep run in the SEC Tournament after a successful regular season.

  • The RTI Low-Down podcast episode was published on February 23, 2026.
  • The court ruling regarding Joey Aguilar's eligibility occurred prior to the podcast recording.

The players

Joey Aguilar

Former Tennessee quarterback who was recently ruled ineligible by a court due to academic issues.

Tayven Jackson

Redshirt sophomore quarterback for Tennessee who is expected to take on a larger role with Aguilar's departure.

Nicholaus Iamaleava

Incoming freshman quarterback for Tennessee who could compete for the starting job.

Rick Barnes

Head coach of the Tennessee basketball team, which is preparing for the upcoming SEC Tournament.

Ron Slay

VFL and SEC Network analyst who joins the podcast to discuss the Tennessee basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.