Joey Aguilar added as Plaintiff in Pavia suit

Your assumption is that we can get guys in the portal better than G-Mac. The portal isn't just full of SEC level QBs, you know.

It's definitely not optimal if G-Mac decides to transfer.
That's an odd assumption on. your part. Simply stated - again - is that if JA is your best eligible player in 2026, you don't wish him away to keep 2 guys who can't sideline him. You concern yourself first with the guy giving you best chance to win and fill the holes best you can.
Honestly don't understand the confusion here.
 
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That's an odd assumption on. your part. Simply stated - again - is that if JA is your best eligible player in 2026, you don't wish him away to keep 2 guys who can't sideline him. You concern yourself first with the guy giving you best chance to win and fill the holes best you can.
Honestly don't understand the confusion here.
Because you need a backup QB. Perhaps you're in the camp that Faizon Brandon is "so good he's ready to play" but I am not and most true freshmen aren't ready to start, which he would need to do if Joey A went down.

Your flippant "go get a QB from the portal" assumes we'd have a ton of SEC ready QBs to choose from out there. I'm doubtful that is true.
 
Covered this below in another thread. Anyone who thinks this isn’t highly possible maybe even likely isn’t paying attention. People saying he’s done and ready to move on are making big assumptions. He hasn’t come right and said that. But he has talked about how much he loves it here.
I still think there is a possibility this happens. The determination on the temporary injunction that allowed Pavia to play this year left the potential open for others to potentially jump onto that as a class action or file a similar case since the courts dismissed the case refusing to overturn the NCAA's appeal. In addition, five college football players from three different schools (Vandy, Nevada, and Wisconsin) have filed a class action lawsuit against the NCAA that's actually seeking a fifth year of eligibility. A hearing in that case is scheduled for Dec 15.

Currently, Joey Football has played only three years of Division 1 in a three year period. If he wants another year here, he should file a similar injunction to what Pavia did, but I would also suggested that waiting as long as possible would be beneficial. Like in Pavia's case the season had already started by the time the appeal was heard and the judge rendered the case moot, because Pavia was already playing. I think the bottom line here is Joey wants to come back for another season at UT, I believe it's highly possible. It's just a matter of whether he wants to expend the energy with the judicial system like Pavia did or if he's ready to move on to something else.
 
Ok I’ve thought all along Joey would come back and Faziom doesn’t look like a freshman he looks like Tee Martin to me.Now G Mac looks like a freshman.Merk reminds me of Jonathon Compton I hope he has a better career than him.Anybobdy wondering what Crompton is up to google him and see what the mountain people of western Carolina have to say about him.
 
You don't know that for sure. Gmac is #3 this season. Next season he will be the actual backup.
if JA moves on, GMac is the likely starter next year, no? He definitely has a leg up any way. If JA comes back, GMac is gonna think, we'll I can go somewhere and compete for the starting job. And someone will pay him more money than we will be able to becsuse JA will get 1st string money.
 
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Not sure about that. Against OK, Heupel should charted him on the first pick rather than wait til a 2nd one happened. Play-calling at times has also cooled down when JA was red-hot. I think the number of picks you can actually lay on his doorstep are fewer than the most-jaded levy against him, and more than the most optimistic fan blames on others. I'm okay with the number of picks I directly attribute to him.

I'd take him back next year and let him compete with Brandon and GMac for the starter. That gives you a darned competitive 3-deep at the position.
Agree to disagree. He has not played as well the last 2-3 games as he did to start the season. He just hasn't made as good of decisions.

That doesn't mean I wouldnt take him back, because I would. Look at the difference in Hooker from year 1 to year 2. JA has plenty of big play ability. If he comes back next year, cuts down in the picks, and we can just run the ball better the offense will be pretty stout. The defense is what has to take a huge step.

Im just not convinced yet that he can or will be back yet. Just have to wait and see.
 
Why does Mac leave? Do you think he honestly thought he would start year two with Merk ahead of him?
because he is likely the starter next year. Merk aint staying because Merk is no good. And its highly unlikely FB comes in and starts day 1. Not saying its impossible but just dont see JH starting him next year. Which leaves the job basically for Gmac to take it and run with it.

Now if JA comes back there will be schools lining up with big offers for Gmac. Which likely means he leaves. JMO
 
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Genuine question, when do you guys think a verdict could be reached and what are the odds of this actually happening? If it does happen there's no doubt in my mind that next year is truly a Playoff or Bust season. I personally believe at the end of the day Joey will get the extra year, but I just wanted to get a consensus view.
 
Lmao.... This is brain dead thinking.

Aguilar is one the top QB's in the country and would have virtually all but Brazzell returning in the receiving group. Gmac isn't transferring to another big time program and starting on day 1 next season.

You 100000% go for getting Aguilar back. While I have been vocal about turning the page to the future, that was all under assumption that Aguilar is gone and has no desire to push for another year. If he does get another year, you go that route 10 times out of 10. You don't take Gmac with zero experience if Aguilar gets another year granted.

110%. Aguilar has proven his offensive output and another year in the system would only make him better. He’s got 2 big name receivers coming back, plus he gets Keys. I’d say it’s worth getting Aguilar back even if it means Merk and GMac transfer out because of it. Aguilar would be a great mentor for Brandon and Brandon gets the nod in 27.
 
Ok so question to VN- if Joey can come back next year do you want him? I do
Absolutely! Unless we could for sure get Sam Leavitt, that would be the only reason I wouldn't... I'd love to see him in year 2 of the system. Aside from the Int's of late, what he's done in such a short time is really impressive.
 
Genuine question, when do you guys think a verdict could be reached and what are the odds of this actually happening? If it does happen there's no doubt in my mind that next year is truly a Playoff or Bust season. I personally believe at the end of the day Joey will get the extra year, but I just wanted to get a consensus view.
Diego sued in Nov 2024 and it was mid December when a judge granted an injunction that would allow HIM to play. Later, the NCAA granted everyone in his situation the right to play.

If that holds true to form (and I'm not an attorney but I don't think they're bound to that timeline,) we can expect a decision before the end of the year.
 
GMac comes from a football family. They are not in a hurry & will play the long game. They understand when he’s ready to play at this level. Physically, there is still some work to do.
Coming from a football family, they'll also realize that Faizon is an excellent prospect who very well may develop faster than G-Mac.

If he stays at UT and sits behind Joey A in 2026 (assuming Joey does get an extra year) then Faizon out develops him and takes QB1 in 2027, G-Mac will have to transfer his last year or never play much college ball.

He's rolling the dice on Faizon's development, not his own, if he stays and sits behind Joey A next year.
 
I thought he was already eligible for another year based on the Pavia ruling? It allowed Pavia to get a 4th year of play in NCAA due to antitrust laws and didn't count his time in JUCO. This is only Aguilar's 3rd year in the NCAA if his time in JUCO didn't count.
 
This needs to end, imo. I don’t fault the players, as they are making more money than they ever will, but there has to be some kind of end point. It’s a matter of time before we have unlimited eligibility as long as you maintain “student” status.

I don't view this about unlimited time but about whether time played at Jr College counts or not to the 4 years at a major university.
 
Joey was a nice late addition that prevented this season from being a total disaster, however he played his worst in close games when the outcome was on the line. His turnovers were Arian Foster type catastrophes (Bama pick 6, OK fumble 6 etc..). I wish him the best moving forward, however think we should move on regardless.

He played well against Georgia when the game was on the line - we just missed the field goal.

And Ty Simpson had similar issues with OU's defense. That defense is just good.
 
Coming from a football family, they'll also realize that Faizon is an excellent prospect who very well may develop faster than G-Mac.

If he stays at UT and sits behind Joey A in 2026 (assuming Joey does get an extra year) then Faizon out develops him and takes QB1 in 2027, G-Mac will have to transfer his last year or never play much college ball.

He's rolling the dice on Faizon's development, not his own, if he stays and sits behind Joey A next year.
GMac has ‘26, ‘27, ‘28 & ‘29 to play.
 
GMac has ‘26, ‘27, ‘28 & ‘29 to play.
And if he sits behind Joey A in 26, can't beat out Faizon for QB1 in 27, he's unlikely to beat him out in 28 or 29 (if Faizon doesn't hit the draft.)

That's the point. G-Mac may get jumped if Faizon develops faster than him and only needs 1 year before taking QB1 from him.

He'd be betting on Faizon's development or actually his lack of development. Unlike true freshmen, who seldom start in the SEC, redshirt freshmen starters are more common and Faizon may be one.

If so, G-Mac will never start at UT.
 
Why would GMac leave? Merk for sure but if Nico had stayed the plan was for Merk next year anyway, not GMac so he would be QB2 anyway. If he can't beat out a freshman QB for the #2 spot then he probably should be looking. Don't forget Brandon was hurt most of this year so who's to say where he's going to be at come bowl and spring practice

Also where would GMac go? It's not like TN QB's leave and go to schools that are competing for the playoffs. There will also being QB's with more playing time entering the portal that' he'll have to compete against. His best bet is to stay, put on weight, learn and keep Brandon seated
In my opinion Merklinger will go to a group of 5 school, or maybe even an fcs school to get a shot at playing time. He doesn’t have the arm to play quarterback at a power 4 school.
 
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