Football <\/p>\n
Joey Aguilar<\/strong> has been in the middle of one of college football\u2019s most compelling offseason narratives, a quarterback soap opera that unfolded throughout the SEC and Pac-12. Nico Iamaleava, once prophesied as the Volunteers\u2019 future at QB, made a dramatic exit for UCLA. Into the breach? Joey Aguilar, straight off a record-breaking stint at Appalachian State, is becoming the man charged with guiding Tennessee\u2019s offense. Aguilar\u2019s ascension wasn\u2019t one of gradual, cautious development. Rather, he\u2019s made a point of being tossed headfirst into the fray.<\/p>\n At App State, after replacing the injured starter in the opener, he threw a 32-yard touchdown on his first FBS play. From there, he had several multi-TD games, became the third-most productive single-season touchdown passer in Sun Belt history, and even won Cure Bowl MVP honors following a gritty, rain-soaked victory at Miami (Ohio) (13-9). He accumulated 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns in the past two seasons, displaying mastery of the moment, particularly when the stakes were highest. The move by Tennessee placed Aguilar solidly in the public eye, and, let\u2019s face facts, on the hot seat. This is not any SEC program, after all.<\/p>\n This is Tennessee, where patience is in short supply, and quarterbacks are heroes or cautionary tales. Here, he\u2019s one of the team\u2019s top offseason additions, and there\u2019s already chatter about whether he\u2019s \u201cmore advanced\u201d than former Vols QB Hendon Hooker. But things are not looking that simple for him. \u201cI think it\u2019s important, we talk about it at the beginning of every year, you earn everything in this game\u2026 That\u2019s certainly true at the quarterback position,\u201d<\/em> Josh Heupel<\/strong> says on the SEC Media Days about the Tennessee QB battle. The question for 2025 isn\u2019t just how far Tennessee can go, but how high Joey Aguilar can climb on the SEC\u2019s gladiatorial QB arena.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Josh Heupel on the QB battle:<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s important, we talk about it at the beginning of every year, you earn everything in this game\u2026 That\u2019s certainly true at the quarterback position.\u201d https:\/\/t.co\/axGVtVHFXM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) July 15, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n At the 2025 SEC Media Days, Heupel didn\u2019t waste any time answering \u201cthe\u201d question. Currently, the competition has three candidates: Joey Aguilar, the high-profile transfer from Appalachian State (and temporarily UCLA), Jake Merklinger<\/strong>, the redshirt freshman, and George MacIntyre<\/strong>, the heralded true freshman already making headlines with his ability. Heupel\u2019s message to Vol Nation and the QBs themselves is bluntly frank.<\/a> He noted that these three have \u201call competed in a really positive way\u201d<\/em> on the field, in meetings, and even off the field, developing relationships and leadership skills. But when it is a network television airing a naming a starter? That\u2019s going to take time.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will have a competition at the quarterback position. We have three guys inside that room. I am really proud of what they have done. Joey, since he got here in May. Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre, and what those two guys have done since they have been on campus, and I am really proud of the steps they have taken through the summer and developing a relationship and rapport with the guys around them,\u201d<\/em> said Heupel. It doesn\u2019t matter how many stars you were as a recruit, how many touchdowns you threw last season, or how much off-season hype is surrounding your name; what you do at this moment is what counts.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Joey Aguilar\u2019s summer with Tennessee has been a crash course in the Heupel offense and an actual test in developing chemistry under duress. Josh Heupel, who has witnessed more than his fair share of offseason quarterback competitions, is keeping a close eye on how Aguilar is catching up. \u201cGot out there in May,\u201d<\/em> Heupel states about Aguilar at the SEC Media Days. \u201cSomething that we\u2019ve been through before as a staff. Took him through our spring installs once he was there on campus.\u201d<\/em> For Heupel, this is familiar ground. He\u2019s discussed a great deal about what it takes for a quarterback to really lead the Vols.<\/a><\/p>\n Heupel\u2019s seen the small things, too: Aguilar taking the offensive line out to dinner, getting extra reps with the young receivers, building credibility not as a transfer, but as a would-be leader. What Heupel emphasizes is ownership. Aguilar\u2019s not being given anything; h<\/a>e must \u201cearn everything in this game,\u201d<\/em> and that includes calling the offense, dealing with the bad plays (because there are going to be a few), and maintaining the energy after the good ones.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n And the run game? SEC Now staff comments that Tennessee\u2019s strong rushing attack may become Aguilar\u2019s best buddy as he makes the transition. So here\u2019s Joey Aguilar for you, a new jersey, a new system, and a new set of guys to lead. If he continues to pile up good days on the field, in the film room, and even over dinner with the O-line, this might be the beginning of something very special for Tennessee\u2019s new quarterback.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
Football Joey Aguilar dives into Josh Heupel\u2019s playbook<\/h2>\n