No. 24 Tennessee will roll out new quarterback Joey Aguilar with the first team offense when the Vols hit the field in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday for the season kickoff game against Syracuse. But while Aguilar is new to the Tennessee system, the veteran college football quarterback isn’t a newcomer to the game overall. He previously started the past two seasons at App State and has experience at the JUCO level from Diablo Valley, as well.
While speaking to the media during his opening press conference this week, Syracuse head coach Fran Brown recounted his experience watching Aguilar throw it around for the Mountaineers. Brown, a former defensive back at Western Carolina, got to see his fair share of Aguilar while keeping up with his former program.
“They got a new guy at the helm, (Joey) Aguilar, who I think is really good,” Brown said on Monday. “I remember him watching App State. I went to Western Carolina, that’s a rival, always getting to see what App does, I’m always up to watching them. I thought he did a real good job at that school. Just thought he was a really good quarterback, good player, excited for what he does. He’s a Cali kid that loves to sling the ball. That’s what he grew up doing. Happy for him.”
In two seasons starting for App State, the Antioch, CA, native threw for 6,760 yards, 56 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. He also ran for nearly 500 yards on the ground with five total touchdowns. Aguilar beat out redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre for the starting nod during training camp in August.
While rattling off his thoughts on Tennessee’s roster, Brown hit on several offensive players for Tennessee that his team is preparing for, including UT tight end Miles Kitselman and that room being “extremely well.”
“I think their running backs are really good,” Brown said. “DeSean (Bishop), Star (Thomas) and Peyton Lewis. Peyton being a really good player, DeSean is really good, and then Star, his name speaks for itself, right? Those running backs are really good.”
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Brown also hit on Tennessee’s pass catchers, from returners Chris Brazzell, Mike Matthews, and Braylon Staley, to some of the Vols’ new freshmen who are looking to make some sort of impact this season.
“I like their receivers, 17, (Chris) Brazzell,” Brown said. “I know Mike Matthews from the recruiting trail being at Georgia. Got the chance to recruit him a little bit. He’s a really good football player. And then those freshmen they brung in, I just literally wrote it down from watching and going back and seeing what they do. But Travis Smith, Radarious (Jackson), (Joakim) Dodson, those guys can really play ball. And let’s not forget about 14, Braylon Staley, who’s a really good football player, also.”
There’s no question that Brown has done his homework and will have his team prepared for this Saturday’s Aflac Kickoff game. Aguilar’s Tennessee debut is going to be a major storyline for the Vols this weekend, but UT is also looking to bring out a potent run game to continue its dominance on the ground that has been built up over the past few seasons. There’s no telling what the rotation will look like for Bishop, Thomas, and Lewis, but each has their own strengths that they bring on the field for De’Rail Sims’ position group.
Tennessee is currently a point favorite over Syracuse heading into the game on Saturday.
For more on what Syracuse head coach Fran Brown said about Tennessee, including a rundown of the Vols’ defense, click here.
