Tennessee’s spring practices were as per the plan. A young QB looking to improve his game and a program trying to carry on its momentum after a playoff finish in 2024. Then, suddenly, it changed. Reports emerged about Nico Iamaleava looking for a higher NIL package. But Tennessee didn’t act upon it. The tension came to a head when Nico skipped practice. Attempts by coaches and teammates to reach out were met with silence, signaling a fracture in relations. But Josh Heupel had enough. You can’t hold your program hostage like this. Demands were refused, and Nico exited the Vols. A few weeks later, he landed at the Bruins via the portal. Since then, there have been contrasting reports on what exactly happened. Was it Nico’s dad? Did Nico raise the concerns around the O-line? Well, among all the losers in the whole saga, Coach Heupel wasn’t one.

Now, Josh Pate has dropped some intel on how the whole fiasco may have helped the head coach in more ways than we thought. Last season, the Vols’ offensive line took a beating. They allowed 30 sacks, especially in big games against Arkansas, Georgia, and Ohio State, which put intense pressure on Nico. That forced him into some rushed decisions and awkward scrambles. So this year for the Vols was more about rebuilding the offense. Josh Pate discussed how Nico’s departure helped Heupel on The Solid Verbal CFB podcast. That shines a whole new light on the situation. Pate revealed how Heupel’s bold move to oust Nico from Tennessee gave him a powerful leverage to take this step back with a clear conscience.

“I think that it’s very underestimated nationally how proud those people were that their guy ended up being the guy who just said no enough,” Pate said. Now, on the surface, losing your starting QB just before the next season sounds like a nightmare. “I mean, I don’t know if the fan base knows this internally,” Pate adds. “They know full well they’re going to take a step back by doing that. This year, they got offensive line concerns, which they were going to have anyway.” 

Tennessee’s 2025 roster is young, raw, and loaded with untapped potential. They found themselves with just two scholarship quarterbacks who had never started a college game. That was redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre. Not ideal, right? They were also facing some solid challenges. And particularly on the offensive line. The departure of first-team All-American center Cooper Mays leaves a huge hole to fill, with redshirt freshmen William Satterwhite and Max Anderson battling it out to take over the critical center position.

Left tackle Lance Heard is the only returning starter. He has promise, standing 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, but he battled injuries last season. Now reportedly healthier and in the best shape of his career, Heard is poised to be a leader, but the unit still needs cohesion. The right tackle spot is wide open, too. There is redshirt freshman Bennett Warren vying for the job. Meanwhile, the guard positions have seen transfers in Wendell Moe Jr. from Arizona. And Sam Pendleton from Notre Dame, who adds some talent but also means new pieces must quickly gel. Offensive line coach Glen Elarbee has been brutally honest about the need for improvement in areas like protection, run-game footwork, and consistency.

By letting Nico go when he did, Heupel essentially bought himself a ton of equity and goodwill with the fan base and the program. “We’ll look back and say what a shrewd tactical move,” Pate continues. “That Heupel, knowing they may take a step back anyway, bought himself a mountain of equity and goodwill. By pulling the move he did when he did. Which gave him perfect cover to go 8 and 4. Only to know that he was about to springboard into his next generation quarterback coming in, and you can’t see that right now, because it’s just fog on the horizon.” 

Rather than looking like the team was in free fall, Heupel’s move framed the 2025 season as a deliberate “reset year.” That’s a far cooler story to tell than scrambling desperately around for a quick-fix QB or pretending they’re ready to compete head-on this season. The fact is, Tennessee’s roster for this year is loaded with freshmen and redshirt freshmen, meaning half the team is still learning the ropes of college football at this level. So, instead of others judging him for what the team can’t do now, he’s earning credit for being forward-thinking. If Tennessee ends up going about 8-4, that record would represent solid footing considering the youth and inexperience. Meanwhile, Heupel can hope that Joey Aguilar delivers this year before Faizon Brandon takes over next year. 

The Joey Aguilar chemistry question for Josh Heupel

Josh Heupel’s biggest concern with Joey Aguilar heading into the 2025 season was all about whether he could develop chemistry quickly with Tennessee’s wide receivers. And he can fit seamlessly into the Vols’ complex offensive system. Aguilar’s arrival came late in the spring, and with limited time to mesh with his new team, some fans and analysts worried about timing and whether he’d be ready to lead immediately. The passing game timing, especially syncing with receivers on dig routes or big plays.

It can make or break a quarterback’s confidence and the offense’s rhythm. Early on, the whispers were that Aguilar might struggle to “gel” with the wideouts. It was a real concern given how critical that trust and timing are for any QB. And let alone one stepping into a program with playoff aspirations right after losing a star quarterback. However, as the fall camp unfolded, those worries began to fade fast. Aguilar’s poise and accuracy in practice stood out.

Reports and videos from day three of fall camp showed Aguilar throwing sharp, well-placed passes to multiple receivers. And hitting tight ends on precision digs and bombing deep balls with confidence. The sidelines buzzed as Aguilar’s chemistry with guys like Ethan Davis and Radarius Jackson started clicking, painting a promising picture. This unexpected smooth progression put to rest the biggest concern about Aguilar’s ability to sync up with the offense quickly. Heupel’s gamble on Aguilar is looking smarter by the week, transforming initial doubts into optimistic chatter.