Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols were hoping to get quarterback Joey Aguilar back for the 2026 season.

But the NCAA said nope.

And Knox County Chancery Court judge Christopher D. Heagerty agreed with the NCAA in February when he denied an injunction that would’ve granted Aguilar another season of eligibility.

Aguilar isn’t the only former Vol who was hoping to be granted another season of eligibility this offseason.

Defensive lineman Jaxson Moi wanted to return to Tennessee for one more season

Defensive lineman Jaxson Moi spent two seasons at Tennessee after transferring from Stanford, but he was hoping to spend one more year on Rocky Top.

But as was the case with Aguilar, the NCAA said nope.

Moi, a California native, told WNML’s SportsTalk this week that he tried to get a fifth season of eligibility, but it didn’t work out.

“I can’t even explain how much it meant to me, being a Vol,” said Moi. “I was trying to get a fifth year and come back and play this upcoming season — just because of all the games that I missed, and with the NCAA possibly talking about passing the five for five (rule).

“But being a Vol, it meant everything to me. I get emotional talking about it. Just because sometimes I get in my head. I feel like I wish I would have finished a little bit stronger than I did, but I’m going to be a Vol for the rest of my life. The relationships and the friendships that I made there, they’re going to stick with me forever. And I tell my family that Tennessee is my second home. I can see myself living out in Knoxville again… I’m a Vol for life, no doubt.”

Moi played in all 13 games in 2024 for the Vols. He played in nine games last season after missing time due to an injury he sustained in the season-opening win over Syracuse.

While Moi would’ve loved to have returned to Tennessee for one more season, he landed in a good spot in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent.

Moi is teammates in Los Angeles with former Vols Jaylen McCollough and Byron Young.

“I put my locker right next to Jaylen’s locker,” said Moi.

“BY (Young) and Tank (McCollough), they’re both really cool, laid-back guys. They’re about their business. You see why they’re elite pros and why they’re still playing football today. So I try to pick their brains as much as I can — because I want to one day be where they’re at in their careers. It’s been great to just know that I have guys that came from Tennessee that bleed orange, just like me.”