Tennessee football quarterback Joey Aguilar was thrust onto a massive stage and came through against Georgia. However, it still wasn’t enough to defeat the Bulldogs, with the Vols falling 44-41 in overtime to UGA.
Aguilar has now amassed 906 passing yards and nine touchdowns through just three games. This is on pace for an absurd 3,624 yards and 36 touchdowns. He did throw two picks in the loss to Georgia, but one was essentially an arm-punt on third down, and the other came after receiver Braylon Staley slipped.
In the Georgia game, Aguilar had his finest showing yet. He completed 24-of-36 passes for 371 yards and four touchdowns, along with the two picks. He did take his first sack of his UT career, but also ran in a touchdown for the first time as a Vol.
Afterward, he met with the media to give his thoughts on what transpired. Here is what he said.
More From RTI: Tennessee Football Not as Big a Favorite as You Might Think Against UAB
On his quick start to the game, his overall performance
“Definitely started off with a groove. Those come and go. I just got to do better in correction and just take what the defense gives me. Felt like I was forcing it a little bit and things like that in the middle. That’s a great program. They schemed up some defensive fronts and things like that. I just got to be better.”
On his interception when Braylon Staley slipped, finding him for a touchdown
“Things like that happen. You’re going to slip every once in a while. Just keep him up. Not let him get down on himself cause we had a lot of ball to play left. Live to the next play, and he did, and was able to go succeed after that.”
On what they learned about themselves this game
“Man, what didn’t we learn? We stuck together. It was a tough loss to a great team. We just got to finish a little more and dig a little deeper. We’re gonna sit on it tonight and get back to work tomorrow and watch film and correct little things we got to correct. A lot good, but definitely a lot of things that we got to clean up.”
On the realization that there is a step to take
“It’s always a good thing. We’re striving for perfection even though we’re not gonna get there, but we can get pretty close. Just the drive that everybody has on this team to just be great and play for each other and play for that T that we wear is something that you can’t put into somebody’s mind and have a mindset like that.”
On knowing its just week three
“It’s still early in the season. They’re a great program. Took them all the way to the wire. Just shows us that we got to dig a little more. Me personally, left a lot on the table. Didn’t put my team in the position to succeed most times. Just shows us we got to get back to the drawing board and get back to work tomorrow.”
On the false start before Max Gilbert’s missed kick
“He just false started. Some things happen like that. Don’t really have an answer for that one.”
On only getting a field goal after the fumble recovery
“Defense made a big play. Offense, we just got to execute better than what we did. Points is points. We’ll always take points, even if it’s three. We were grateful for that, but that’s on me. I got to execute better, find my receivers, give them a better ball. But coming out with points is always a positive.”
On if someone told him five months ago that he’d be playing in overtime vs. Georgia for Tennessee
“Definitely wouldn’t have even thought of it. But I’m here now, and the main goal is this team, not just me. I know it’s a great story and stuff like that, but my main focus is to do my job and help this team win games.”
On if he helped his team vs. Georgia
“Like I said earlier, left a lot on the table. Didn’t put my team in the best position to win. There were obviously some good plays here and there, but definitely a lot I can clean up.”
On the field goal being missed at the end of regulation, keeping confidence high
“Just another drive that we get to go out there and play. You get that opportunity to go out there, strap it up, everybody has that juice in them and is ready to go out there.”
On how much better he thinks the offense can get
“So much better. I mean, I don’t think there’s a limit. Not even offense, but defense and special teams. Everybody comes into work and strives every single day. This just shows us that we got to push a little bit more everywhere, whether it’s the field, workout, film room. It’s exciting to know that we’re not at our best yet.”
