The news wire is buzzing on Sunday night, thanks to a huge announcement from the Tennessee Football team. UT has announced that former App State/UCLA transfer quarterback will officially be leading Josh Heupel’s 2025 offense as the starting signal caller when the Vols take on Syracuse in Atlanta to kick off the regular season on Aug. 30.
Aguilar beat out redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre during UT’s quarterback battle this fall camp. While each quarterback had some good reports throughout the preseason, Aguilar’s experience as a two-year starter with the Mountaineers suggested that he had the best chance to win the competition. Tennessee made that official with its announcement on Sunday night.
During his two seasons at App State, Aguilar threw for 6,760 yards on 60.1% passing, 56 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. He also had 140 total carries in his two years, with 456 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
While the news wire is buzzing, so is social media. College football analysts and Tennessee fans quickly took to X to share their reactions to the news.
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Here’s a look at some of the reactions bouncing around online after the news of Joey Aguilar’s starting nod became official late Sunday night:
Joey Aguilar is officially Tennessee football’s QB1 👀
MORE: https://t.co/eHWrPYpHk4 pic.twitter.com/moEBFNiDgJ
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) August 18, 2025
Joey Aguilar will make his 25th FBS start in @AflacKickoff Game. He is the FBS active career leader in total offense per game at 288.5. (min. 2,500 yds) https://t.co/3cuTmWyuGf
— Bill Martin (@Bill_Martin) August 18, 2025
The biggest winner from the football transfer portal in the offseason.
Joey Aguilar goes from the QB of a five-win App State team to the starter of a SEC team that made the CFP last year.
Joey should send Nico a Christmas card. https://t.co/uvVI0LI1AF
— Josh Graham (@JoshGrahamShow) August 18, 2025
Here’s a few brief clips of Joey Aguilar, who left App State for UCLA, where he was brought in to be the starter, but then the Nico situation happened, and now he will start for Tennessee.
Been a wild buildup. pic.twitter.com/FieRzqdEAX
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) August 18, 2025
Joey Aguilar is QB1 for Tennessee football.
Three reasons why Aguilar was always the most logical choice to begin the season ⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/R2j3CWD8mP
— Ryan Schumpert (@rschump00) August 18, 2025
Joey Aguilar will be the first No. 6 to start at quarterback for Tennessee since Alan Cockrell (1981-83).
Cockrell was the first true freshman to start at the position in school history. https://t.co/6rmYNmPOim pic.twitter.com/7I27tqDHOG
— Noah Taylor (@ByNoahTaylor) August 18, 2025
Tennessee has named Joey Aguilar as its starting quarterback to begin the 2025 season.
The App State/UCLA transfer will make his debut with the Vols on Aug. 30 vs. Syracuse in Atlanta.
(First reported by VolQuest)https://t.co/zOIHWvi6Bb
— Ryan Sylvia (@RyanTSylvia) August 18, 2025
The FBS active career leader in total offense per game at 288.5….
Let’s ride Joey Aguilar‼️ pic.twitter.com/IrLxUmsQ4z
— Rocky Top Now (@rockytopnow) August 18, 2025
Joey Aguilar prior to the 2024 season vs prior to 2025 season. Weight room. pic.twitter.com/GaV5xIKBmD
— Kerry Williams (@kerrywilliams_) July 27, 2025
Since On3 sports’ headline is misleading, here’s Joey Aguilar’s stats at Appalachian State.
He never played a snap for UCLA. https://t.co/gPfyGB0S0x pic.twitter.com/S3cgcbusdL
— Herd Bros (@TheHerdBros) August 15, 2025
Josh Heupel on #vols QB1 Joey Aguilar “extremely comfortable in what we’re doing right now.”
He is the FBS active career leader in total offense per game at 288.5. (min. 2,500 yds) https://t.co/8cqAXLGImC
— Paige Dauer (@PaigeDauerFDP) August 18, 2025
Lead us to greatness, Joey Aguilar pic.twitter.com/Kr8fzEklNM https://t.co/RexFLkehP8
— Dylan Holt (@DylanHolt_) August 13, 2025
I’m so ready for Joey Aguilar to give his all for Tennessee
— BOOVOLTER (@BooVOLter) August 18, 2025
If Joey Aguilar can score in the first half and actually hit some receivers down field, I’ll be ready to build the statue
— Ethan (@TheEthanD) August 18, 2025
Tennessee has officially named Joey Aguilar the starting Quarterback.
Aguilar threw for 6,760 yards and 56 TD’s at App State
He brings a wealth of veteran experience and leadership to the Tennesee offense pic.twitter.com/mGwbh70jTo
— CFB Embedded (@CFBembedded) August 18, 2025
Are we supposed to openly and actively cheer and root for joey Aguilar during his tenure at Tennessee ? I know l I’m doing it deep down but like, do / CAN we claim him?
How does this new transfer portal college football fandom work?
— AppFanAlum (@AppFanAlum) August 18, 2025
The question of the offseason has been answered. #Vol football names Joey Aguilar as their starting QB. https://t.co/pnoQLFu7pU
— Casey Kay (@caseykaytv) August 18, 2025
https://t.co/xvCBj6Sah0 pic.twitter.com/7vLA0lDRb3
— Randy💸Fancy👀Lahey (@RandyLaheyed) August 18, 2025
Joey Swaguilar
— Sharky McStevenson (@Fan_4_UT) August 18, 2025
