Tennessee fans had the opportunity to learn about Joey Aguilar’s long and winding path to Rocky Top during fall camp last season. And now, Jacksonville Jaguars fans and media members have a chance to do the same.
While speaking with the Jags’ media at summer practices this week, Aguilar shared his story through the JUCO ranks and Tennessee on his way to the NFL. This also includes his desire to be a firefighter before he stepped back into the football world.
“All the way up until high school, I was just playing football,” Aguilar said, via WJXT’s Jamal St. Cyr on X. “Graduated high school, had no scholarships, no opportunity to go play at the next level. I took a fireman class, so I was into that. Once I graduated in 2019, I kind of stepped away from football. I went to JUCO, but mostly for school and I wanted to take a fireman class and go that route, become a firefighter. So I was doing that, and me and my dad opened up a mobile car wash, so we’re out there washing some cars and making some money, trying to become a fireman.
“I was still throwing it around with the guys. I had a lot of teammates that were in JUCO and a lot of teammates that were in the Division I level. So I would go out there, we’ll run routes, play seven-on within ourselves. And then 2021 came around, they asked me to go play. I reached out to my JUCO coach, Coach Mike Darr at DVC (Diablo Valley College), and he said he would love to have me. I went out there and was a backup until Week 7, I believe, and became a starter there for the rest of that season. 2022, was a starter. Got an opportunity to go play at Appalachian State. So, culture change, but I loved it out there. App State’s home for me. I spent my last two seasons there, ’23, ’24. And this past season, I got granted an extra year of eligibility and I spent that in Tennessee. It was a blessing.”
From nearly becoming a firefighter to being in the NFL.
Jaguars rookie QB Joey Aguilar’s journey to the NFL is one for the books. pic.twitter.com/l73W5WhUAb
— Jamal St. Cyr (@JStCyrTV) June 9, 2026
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Aguilar only spent one year at Tennessee and made it a career highlight. He won the Vols’ starting job during fall camp and proceeded to lead the SEC with 3,565 passing yards, while also throwing 24 touchdowns and rushing for four more.
He had particularly big games against Georgia (371 yards), Mississippi State (335 yards), Kentucky (396 yards), and Oklahoma (393 yards). Aguilar also led Tennessee to its first road victory over Florida in The Swamp since the 2003 season.
Aguilar attempted to get one more year of eligibility during the offseason, but was denied in a Knox County court ruling. He then decided to go forward in the NFL Draft process, despite taking care of a surgery during the offseason, and was signed by Jacksonville as an undrafted free agent following the draft.
