While 2025 starter Joey Aguilar is still engaged in a legal fight for a sixth season of eligibility, Tennessee found its safety blanket at quarterback for next season when Colorado transfer Ryan Staub announced he’s joining the Volunteers, he announced on social media Sunday.

Staub, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound quarterback out of Stevenson Ranch, Calif., completed 53.5% of his passes for 681 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions over three seasons with the Buffaloes. He appeared in 10 games and made two starts.

He has two years of eligibility left.

It was also announced Sunday that a court date has been set for Feb. 10 in Nashville for the ongoing Diego Pavia lawsuit. Aguilar attached his name as a plaintiff in the case in November. He was originally supposed to be out of eligibility after the 2024 season but ended up at Tennessee by way of UCLA in 2025 after the injunction in the Pavia case, which is arguing that junior college seasons shouldn’t count towards NCAA eligibility.

If Aguilar secures another legal win, he could be eligible to return to the Volunteers in 2026. He threw for 3,565 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his first season with Tennessee.

–Field Level Media