Currently, Tennessee football will be without starting quarterback Joey Aguilar next season due to a lack of eligibility. However, Aguilar is fighting for a chance to play another year, presumably with the Vols, though reports indicate the belief is that it is unlikely he will win.
Despite that, PFF operated under the assumption that Aguilar will be Tennessee’s quarterback next season when it did its ‘way-too-early’ top 25 for next season. With that in mind, PFF slotted the Vols as the No. 19 team in the country.
“This ranking is dependent on the result of quarterback Joey Aguilar’s lawsuit against the NCAA, as he’s seeking an eighth season of eligibility,” PFF wrote. “He’s a top-10 quarterback in the country if he wins his case after posting an elite 90.5 PFF grade this year. DeSean Bishop is back at running back after running for 1,076 yards. The defense added numerous pieces from the transfer portal, including four from Penn State, with edge defender Chaz Coleman as the standout.”
Though PFF said Aguilar is looking for an eighth season, he is actually looking for a sixth. He played two years in junior college, two at Appalachian State and one at Tennessee.
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If Aguilar cannot play next season, it’ll be a three-man quarterback battle. The Vols return redshirt-freshman George MacIntyre and bring in five-star freshman Faizon Brandon and redshirt-junior and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub to compete for the job.
Around the quarterback, it’ll be a strong group on offense. The Vols return SEC Freshman of the Year Braylon Staley at slot receiver, along with Mike Matthews. The other receiver role is up for grabs, but there are multiple options. The tight end spot is also manned by returner Ethan Davis. On the offensive line, four of the five starters are set to return.
Defensively, the Vols will look very different. Tennessee hired Jim Knowles as the new defensive coordinator, and he brings in a long list of transfers for his first year commanding the defense. This includes four Penn State transfers from Knowles’ team last year, Chaz Coleman, Dejuan Lane, Amare Campbell and Xavier Gilliam.
