Tennessee whiffed on one of the nation’s most productive players last year, but now he’s going into the transfer portal
The Vols missed out on a top quarterback target last offseason, but now he’s heading into the market.
Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols had to scramble last offseason after Nico Iamaleava’s sudden split with the program right before the spring game. There’s never a good time to lose your starting quarterback, but as far as timing goes, that’s high on the totem pole of bad times.
Tennessee supposedly kicked the tires on a number of options, and TCU’s Josh Hoover was included among them. However, Hoover ultimately decided to stay in Fort Worth and remain a Horned Frog.
It appears as though that was just a temporary decision. Per ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, Hoover is entering the transfer portal.
TCU QB Josh Hoover is entering the transfer portal
Hoover, as Thamel noted, is one of the most statistically accomplished quarterbacks in the nation. He’s been the Horned Frogs’ starting quarterback going back to 2023, with 36 games under his belt. He has career totals of 9629 passing yards with a 65.2% completion percentage, 71 touchdowns, and 33 interceptions. This year, he threw for 3472 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, the latter of which led the Big 12. By comparison, Joey Aguilar threw for 3444 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions for Tennessee this season.
The interceptions are a bit of a concern with Hoover. He’s thrown 24 in his last two seasons, so while he makes plays, it’s something Tennessee would have to live with. However, the Vols’ offense still managed to handle Aguilar’s history with interceptions quite well in 2025, as Tennessee’s offense was the highest scoring unit in the SEC and one of the best in the nation.
Thamel posted a story in July in which he wrote that Hoover wasn’t interested in even hearing the offer from Tennessee. “He didn’t even say a number,” Thamel quoted Hoover as saying. “I just said, ‘No, that’s not what I want to do.’ It was pretty simple.”
We’ll see if Tennessee targets him and is able to make any progress this time around. With only George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon as quarterbacks under scholarship for 2026, the Vols desperately need someone that has experience and has the upside of becoming an impact player. Hoover would certainly fit the bill there.
Tennessee Volunteers News
Former Tennessee Vols player enters transfer portal just one year after leaving Knoxville
A former Tennessee defender is looking for his third team.
