The Tennessee Volunteers have wasted no time after Nico Iamaleava’s departure. After refusing Iamalaeva’s NIL demand, they reloaded their QB room by snagging UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar, a huge addition alongside 5-star freshman George MacIntyre and Jake Merklinger.  Aguilar is expected to be on campus by mid-to-late May, possibly even early June, after completing his graduation from Appalachian State University. 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.

The Vols’ star cornerback Jerod McCoy is currently out with an ACL injury. McCoy suffered the injury during a training session at his home in East Texas in January and has undergone surgery. The program is hoping for an early-season return for McCoy, but nothing is certain at the moment. And even though they have Ricky Gibson III in their ranks, Heupel has just added some more quality.

Colorado’s Colton Hood, who was in line to replace Travis Hunter in Boulder, entered the transfer portal on April 25. The 5-foot-11 defensive back played in all 13 games for the Buffs last season, racking up 24 tackles and 2 interceptions, and now he is headed to Tennessee. He brings three years of eligibility with him, and shortly after his commitment, Hood shared his excitement following the move to Knoxville.

He tweeted, “Let’s do it Vol family #GBO #HoodEra thank you Jesus”!  As a freshman last year, Hood logged 215 snaps without allowing a single touchdown and held opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of just 51.7 when targeting him. The Vols are adding experience and quality to their defense. Simply put, the Vols just landed a standout. However, according to a Vols insider, there’s one factor that makes Colton Hood’s numbers even more impressive.

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 well-rounded.

Tennessee lost three defensive backs in the spring transfer portal with Jakobe Thomas (Miami), Christian Charles (Virginia), and Slaughter (Colorado) all departing Heupel’s side. However, they still enjoy a strong core of options at the position.

Apart from Rickey Gibson, the Vols have Jalen McMurray, who filled in for McCoy in spring practice. They also have former four-star recruit Kaleb Beasley in their ranks, who could have some opportunities as well. With Hood in the mix, Heupel can deploy three cornerbacks across two spots, creating a strong, flexible unit. Jalen McMurray can also shift to nickel and rotate with Boo Carter, which opens the door for Carter to see more snaps on offense — something he’s been aiming for.

Meanwhile, Hood opened up on his decision to join 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.

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, 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 the 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.

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.