The most positive part of the first month of Tennessee football’s 2025 season has been its passing attack and particularly the play of transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar. The veteran quarterback has given Tennessee a confidence and decisiveness that its passing attack has missed the last two seasons.
Through five games, Aguilar has completed 102-of-57 passes for 1,459 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s on pace to flirt with if not surpass the passing yards and touchdowns that Hendon Hooker threw for in 2021 and 2022 while he will also blow by the interception numbers.
What does the specific passing concepts and passing chart numbers say about Aguilar through the first month of the season?
Aguilar has been stellar on play action, completing 75% of his passes for 1,097 yards, 10 touchdowns and one interception. He’s been much worse on straight drop backs, completing just 50% of his passes for 368 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions.
With as much play action as Tennessee runs, those numbers seem to be less about the actual passing concept and more about Aguilar struggling in some obvious passing situations.
When it comes to passing depth, Aguilar has graded out better the further the throws down the field according to PFF. Aguilar has specifically been terrific on deep throws between the numbers. He’s competed eight-of-10 passes for 348 yards and five touchdowns on attempts that have traveled over 20 yards down the field and between the numbers. It makes for a perfect 158.3 passer rating on those throws.
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He’s been less accurate on deep throws outside of the numbers, completing two-of-seven passes on the left side and two-of-five passes to the right side. But those throws have accounted for 130 yards, three touchdowns and just one interception. And the one interceptions was effectively a third down arm punt late in the first half against Georgia.
Overall, Aguilar has been really good on throws between the numbers. The one issue there has been interceptions. He’s throw four of his five interceptions between the numbers with three of his five interceptions coming on passes less than 10 yards between the numbers.
Aguilar’s 72.6 passer rating on throws between the line of scrimmage and 10 yards down the field between the numbers is his second lowest of any spot. His 50.5 passer rating on throws left of the numbers between the line of scrimmage and 10 yards down the field is his worst mark. He’s completed just three-of-eight passes for 33 yards on those throws.
The only area where Nico Iamaleava was far more efficient last season compared to Aguilar this season is on throws behind the line of scrimmage. Iamaleava completed 49-of-53 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns.
Through five games this season, Aguilar has completed 24-of-31 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown. Here’s a complete look at Aguilar’s passing chart this season compared to Iamaleava’s passing chart last season.
Joey Aguilar (2025 season through 5 games)
Nico Iamaleava (full 2024 season)
