Feb. 13, 2026, 4:02 p.m. ET
Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar‘s preliminary injunction hearing on Friday, Feb. 13, featured an attorney with ties to the Vols and the University of Tennessee.
Despite NCAA attorney Taylor Askew making it known he is a fan of Tennessee football, he still argued that Aguilar should not have another year of eligibility in 2026.
“I love Tennessee football. I’m from Knoxville. I grew up watching it. My kids watch him every game,” Askew said. “But at some point, when judges are looking at records like this, and in Tennessee we have to say, ‘Tennessee is better than this. We’re better than this. We don’t have to go to court to get our guy back. We don’t have to play somebody who is ineligible under the rules to win games. We don’t do that at Tennessee.’
“And we can make that decision without taking anything away from Mr. Aguilar in terms of how fantastic he was.”
Askew is a Knoxville native and played football at Tennessee Tech, where he was a multi-year starter on the offensive line. He earned his law degree at the University of Tennessee in 2014.
As noted by Knox News, Askew has represented the NCAA against Tennessee in past court events. He opposed Tennessee’s interests in cases involving basketball player Zakai Zeigler, baseball player Alberto Osuna and former quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
“You’re a hero to kids in this city. Fantastic. And we can’t take that away from him. He will always have a home in Knoxville. We didn’t know who he was until Nico left. And then he came and it was wonderful,” Askew said while looking at Aguilar in the courtroom. “But that doesn’t mean we break the rules. It doesn’t mean the Vols get something everybody else doesn’t — unless and until the claim is proven. And until we do that, we play by the rules. And that’s all we’re asking.”
Judge Chris Heagerty extended the temporary restraining order until he issues an opinion on an injunction, which would grant or deny Aguilar’s eligibility. Heagerty, who earned his bachelor’s and law degree at Tennessee and is an adjunct professor at UT’s Winston College of Law, said he would not rule on the injunction from the bench on Feb. 13, but expects to have an opinion in “short order.”
Following the hearing, Aguilar was seen in putting his arm around Askew while the two talked.
Aguilar is suing the NCAA over its eligibility rules regarding former junior college players. He is seeking to extend his NCAA eligibility so he can play one more season at Tennessee, arguing that junior college competition shouldn’t factor into NCAA seasons of eligibility or an athlete’s eligibility clock because junior colleges are not part of the NCAA.
The 24-year-old started his football career at City College of San Francisco in 2019, but did not play his first two seasons there due to a redshirt season and COVID-19 cancellations. He then played two seasons at Diablo Valley College before transferring to Appalachian State ahead of the 2023 season.
Aguilar briefly transferred to UCLA following the 2024 season, but transferred to Tennessee after Iamaleava transferred from the Vols to play for the Bruins. Aguilar led Tennessee to an 8-5 record in 2025.
date: 2026-02-14 02:11:00
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