One team’s gain is another’s pain. However, the Vols wasted no time after Nico Iamaleava’s departure. To reload their QB room, they snagged UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar — a huge addition alongside 5-star freshman George MacIntyre and Jake Merklinger. Interestingly, Vols head coach Josh Heupel recently shared that Aguilar is expected on campus in the coming weeks. The staff is eager to get him integrated and strengthen the depth chart. But the Vols aren’t just scoring big at QB, as Heupel made another major splash in the transfer portal.

This one’s sure to catch your eye. Colorado just lost one of its top CBs after he entered the transfer portal. Yes, the 5-foot-11 defensive back played in all 13 games for the Buffs last season, racking up 24 tackles and 2 interceptions. Now, he’s heading to Josh Heupel’s Tennessee Volunteers, where he’ll have 3 years of eligibility left. Although it all started for him at Auburn, now he’s ready to make an impact in Knoxville.

Enter Colton Hood, the CB making waves. He’s found his new home — the Tennessee Volunteers. With his commitment, the Vols’ cornerback room just got even deeper. And a Vols insider couldn’t help but highlight Hood’s impressive stats. “There is one thing that really sticks out about Colton Hood, number one, his numbers from last season are impressive. According to PFF, Hood faced 215 coverage snaps in the 2024 season for the Colorado Buffaloes, he allowed only two touchdowns, allowed a passer rating of 51.7, and had two interceptions on the year,” said the insider. Simply put, the Vols just landed a standout.

However, according to the insider, there’s one factor that makes Colton Hood’s numbers even more impressive. It’s the player he shared the CU secondary with — none other than Travis Hunter. The Heisman Trophy contender, who went No. 2 overall in the NFL Draft, was a force at CB and WR. With teams often throwing away from Hunter, Hood faced the brunt of the passing game, which only makes his impressive stats stand out more. Now, Hood is joining a Tennessee defensive backfield that’s stacked, especially at CB, where the Vols’ depth is truly remarkable.

So why Tennessee? Colton Hood shared with On3 that he was drawn to the ‘culture and history’ of the Volunteers, along with the ‘genuineness’ of Heupel. “They basically said I can come in and play and be a big factor of what they’ve got going on immediately,” explained Hood. Adding, “So I think that’s big, too.”

However, Hood is also excited about returning closer to home and testing his skills against SEC competition. “That’s really big because I was just at Colorado, which is really far, really, really far from home. So being able to come closer to home is big for myself,” said the standout CB.

And of course, facing the best is a major draw. “It is appealing going against the best. I pride myself on competitiveness, so that is very appealing,” added Hood. While Clemson’s head coach seems to be winning the recruitment trail, there’s an upsetting verdict involving Urban Meyer.

The disappointing decision for Josh Heupel

Although Josh Heupel delivered another impressive double-digit win season, but he had bigger plans for Year 2. With a strong squad behind him post-spring camp, the hopes were high, especially with his former QB leading the charge. But now, with his departure, the media is buzzing, producing predictions for Vols’ upcoming schedule without him.

Here, Veteran coach Urban Meyer has some tough news for Josh Heupel. Well, on The Triple Option podcast, Meyer told Rod Stone that the Vols will likely secure 7 wins before their season finale against Vanderbilt. However, here’s the kicker — he predicts they’ll struggle after that. “I think they get eight, but I’ll tell you what… I’m going to say they got sc—-d again,” said Meyer. But, Meyer also made it clear — the coaching staff is the reason Vanderbilt is no longer an easy win.

Look, the 2024 showdown between Vols and Vanderbilt ended with a 36-23 win for the Vols, but it wasn’t without drama. After the first quarter, the Commodores were up 17-7, and it took a 4-TD performance from Iamaleava to spark the comeback. But now, with Iamaleava gone, the Vols face a new QB1 in Joey Aguilar, who’s stepping into this rivalry for the first time. Meanwhile, the Commodores aren’t the same team. Under HC Clark Lea, they’re more seasoned with 2 years of assistant coaching stability from DC Steve Gregory and OC Tim Beck. So, this year’s matchup won’t be a cakewalk for Tennessee, especially with Aguilar leading the charge against a hungry Commodores squad ready for battle.

On top of that, “Stepping into the SEC means you’re facing speed like never before,” Meyer explained, reflecting on the challenges Josh Heupel’s team will face. “Everybody’s at least a step faster, and in some cases, two. And when you’re throwing 24 interceptions—that’s one per game—that’s way too many.” So, for Heupel, it’s a stark reminder that to compete at this level, ball security will be key, especially with a new QB under center.