For the first time, we’re getting a look at new Tennessee football quarterback Joey Aguilar in a Vols uniform.
With the team meeting up for photo day, Aguilar was pictured in his new No. 6 on an orange jersey along with an ‘SEC Graduate’ patch on the front.
Other notable players who were pictured on the team’s Instagram included five-star freshman lineman David Sanders Jr., defensive end Tyre West, cornerback Jermod McCoy, tight end Ethan Davis, quarterback Jake Merklinger, interior lineman Sam Pendleton, wide receiver Braylon Staley, safety Edrees Farooq, interior lineman Wendell Moe Jr., four-star freshman quarterback George MacIntyre, punter Jackson Ross, running back Star Thomas, wide receiver Mike Matthews, running back Peyton Lewis and four-star freshman wide receiver Travis Smith Jr.
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Aguilar joins Tennessee with the expectation to compete with Merklinger and MacIntyre for the starting quarterback job. Initial expectations were that Nico Iamaleava would slide back into his starting role, but reported NIL negotiations led to a fallout between the sides. As a result, Iamaleava left in a messy transfer scenario and ended up at UCLA.
With Aguilar transferring from App State to UCLA in the initial transfer window, he saw his projected starting job with the Bruins usurped from him. He would enter the spring window, as well, and find his way to Knoxville to replace Iamaleava.
Now, after spending spring camp learning a new offense, he is being asked to do it all over. He brings the most experience to the room of signal callers, but doesn’t have a spring session under his belt with Josh Heupel and company.
Aguilar went into the recent 2024 season with high expectations with the Mountaineers. After a dominant showing the year prior, he threw for 3,003 yards on a 56% completion rate. He tossed 23 touchdowns but turned the ball over with 14 interceptions in just 11 games. On the ground, he added 207 yards and two touchdowns on 59 attempts.
In 2023, Aguilar torched the App State record books. He set new program-best marks for a single season in passing yards (3,757), passing touchdowns (33), total offense (4,002), 200-yard passing games (13), pass completions (293) and pass attempts (460).
That year earned him Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and Cure Bowl MVP. He steered App State to a 9-5 record, Sun Belt Championship Game appearance and bowl win over Miami (Ohio).
He began his career at the junior college level, playing at Diablo Valley for two seasons just outside San Francisco. Prior to that, he played for two years at Freedom High School in Antioch, California. He earned First-team All-Bay 6 in both seasons there.
