Tennessee names Joey Aguilar beginning quarterback forward of 2025 season

[ad_1] Tennessee has named Joey Aguilar its beginning quarterback for the 2025 marketing campaign, in accordance with VolQuest. Aguilar earned the beginning nod over redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre.

Aguilar has had a rollercoaster of an offseason. Within the winter, he transferred from Appalachian State to UCLA. Nonetheless, after former Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava transferred to UCLA, Aguilar entered the portal as soon as once more.

Mockingly, Aguilar finally discovered a house with Tennessee, successfully swapping spots with Iamaleava. Earlier than transferring to UCLA, Aguilar spent two seasons at Appalachian State. In his two years with the Mountaineers, Aguilar amassed 6,760 passing yards and 56 touchdowns whereas throwing 24 interceptions.

Within the floor sport, Aguilar recorded 456 whole speeding yards and 5 scores. His 3,757 passing yards within the 2023 marketing campaign are essentially the most in a single season in program historical past. He additionally shattered the report for passing touchdowns (33) in a single season that 12 months.

Aguilar is definitely essentially the most skilled QB on Tennessee’s roster this 12 months. Merklinger was Tennessee’s third-string QB final season. He solely made two appearances, finishing 6-of-his-9 cross makes an attempt for 48 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

As a real freshman, MacIntyre has no collegiate expertise. In a pass-heavy Tennessee system, Aguilar has an opportunity to be probably the most prolific passers within the nation this fall.

Tennessee averaged 221.2 passing yards per sport final season, rating No. 77 within the nation. Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel will undoubtedly look to ramp up the crew’s passing manufacturing within the 2025 marketing campaign. In July, Heupel mirrored on the second he knew Aguilar was a very good match for Tennessee.

“I believe the maturity that he demonstrated on the cellphone, as you get an opportunity to undergo his historical past, what issues to him and what he’s on the lookout for, what he cares about, match the tradition piece of it,” Heupel stated. “Clearly, studied the movie as properly. So I felt prefer it had an opportunity to be a extremely good match at that time.”

Heupel isn’t the one one that’s assured that Joey Aguilar will discover success at Tennessee. This summer time, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit revealed his expectations for Aguilar within the upcoming season.

“He’s going into a terrific system,” Herbstreit stated. “I imply, Josh Heupel places the quarterback in a spot to achieve success with the system that they run, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see him do properly.

“Additionally, he’s getting into with, I don’t wish to say nothing to lose — the expectations are at all times excessive at Tennessee — however they’re going to be in his nook. That fanbase goes to be in his nook after Nico type of left them the way in which he did.”