For the first time since making the move from UCLA to Tennessee, quarterback Joey Aguilar fielded questions from the media.
He was asked about the transition, timeline of picking the Vols, his success and struggles at App State and more. Here’s what he said.
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On the last month for him
“It’s been amazing. Ever since I got here, coaches, players and the community welcomed me like if I’ve been here for a while already. That was good for m coming back from leaving family again to a new family that, like I said, welcomed me. Made the transition very easy.”
On his mindset coming in
“Just how I go about my day. My career as it is, just put my nose down and grind. I came in with a short amount of time to learn the playbook so my goal was to be in here every day as much as possible and get those things down. The details of the playbook and just watch film from last season to see how things are ran. Coming down here, coaches helped me a lot with that since players were on break when I got here. Other than that, just coming down and grinding and trying to get that playbook down.”
On if he’s always been an underdog
“Growing up, I had to work for everything I got to. In high school, I was the starting quarterback. Graduating high school, I had no scholarships, nothing coming out of high school. Really took about two years off with Covid and things like that. Went back to JUCO, was a backup in JUCO, earned the starting spot. App State, went into the first game as a backup, earned the starting spot again. I would just say enjoying the process and working and truly earning what I have accomplished made everything so fun.”
On how he evaluates his last year at App State
“Wasn’t the best. I definitely put up a better season in ’23. Tried to do a little too much I think in ’24. The past is the past, all you can do is learn from it and do better.”
On going through spring installs on his own
“Coming from JUCO to App State, playbooks change and terminology and verbiage. But, some things kind of stack on top of each other in where you go. Just learning how Coach Joey (Halzle) teaches it, Coach Heup teaches it, and taking from when I ran it. Some plays I ran other places, just bringing that over of what I know and then what they’re teaching and how they want to run it. It kind of makes things a little easier, but definitely, there was stuff I had to learn and dig deeper in. I feel like the experience of going from JUCO to App State and even UCLA helped me get the playbook down a little easier.”
On his perception of the SEC before he joined
“I wouldn’t say it (was daunting). This is where everyone wants to play. This is one of the highest levels of college football and I’m just really excited to be here.”
On putting on a Tennessee jersey now
“I’m excited. When I first threw it on for media day, I was trying to look at myself in the photos, take photos and stuff. I’m excited.”
On the biggest surprise of being in Knoxville
“Surprising part is how many people knew who I was when I first got here. I really haven’t done anything for this university yet and all these people are super welcoming, asking for autographs, pictures outside of football, which is awesome.”
On his initial impressions of Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre
“They’re great guys. I’m super excited. We had a good summer. I’m super excited to keep battling through this fall camp with them, for sure.”
On the dynamic between the quarterbacks
“Some people would see it as we shouldn’t help each other, but at the end of the day, we all have to be connected as one. For example, App State, I came in as a backup trying to help the starter, starter got hurt, I have to be ready. I can’t go at it if I’m upset I’m not starting. I’m trying to do whatever I can to help whoever is out there and the whole team win games.”
On if having more experience is an advantage
“I’m not sure if it truly gives me an advantage. If you’re good at football, you’re good at football no matter what. I guess just helping with the playbook I would say maybe. But if you’re a good player, you’re a good player.”
On the timeline of committing
“It was a one-day turnaround. I got in like nine o’clock in the morning and I think I committed at like eight o’clock at night. There was no time to waste. I was leaving in like May or something like that. I had no time to go out there and try to shop around for a school. Whoever needed, I needed to go make that decision where I needed to be at and get things going.”
On if a lot of schools reached out
“It was weird, but I did. I did have a lot of schools reach out to me. I narrowed it down pretty quick, as you guys can see.”
On limiting turnovers
“Just being smarter. Taking check downs when I know the deep ball would be a little more 50/50. At the end of the day, I gotta give my receivers a chance and have the trust that my receivers, no matter what ball I throw to them, will come down with it. I would just say that, just check the ball down when needed. I saw this thing about Cam Ward I think it was. It was like, you can make the play, but it’s not always right if you do so. Kind of saying like, I can make a play happen, but if I know I have an easy five yards here, just dish it down and that play will present itself later on. Just being more, I don’t even want to say cautious because that makes it seem like I don’t really want to throw the ball. I’m gonna throw the ball. I’m not gonna change that. Just take the easy yards when they give it to you.”
On why he picked No. 6
“Freshman year (of high school), when I started my quarterback jersey, wore No. 6. I used to play like D-End, linebacker, running back. Then going into freshman year of high school, switched to quarterback. I always played baseball so I as always able to throw the ball.”
