We are one month away from the Tennessee football team taking the field against Syracuse. While he hasn't officially been named the starter yet, transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar is expected to win the job and lead the offense out onto the field.
Aguilar knows the pressure that comes with potentially being the starting quarterback for the Tennessee Vols, but it's something he's ready to attack head on. He's also motivated by bringing a lot of joy to the fanbase once the campaign gets here.
Leading up to fall camp, the veteran quarterback met with the media and he didn't mince words while discussing what everyone in Knoxville has meant to him thus far. Straight up, Aguilar said the support he's gotten from the Tennessee faithful has been huge for him and he couldn't be more grateful about it:
#Vols Joey Aguliar said the Tennessee fanbase has been the biggest surprise since stepping on campus. Who's gonna tell him he's seen nothing yet? 😂 pic.twitter.com/5P1RDBC1nZ
— Camille Gear (@CamilleGearTV) July 29, 2025
Joey Aguilar has been in awe of the support he's gotten from Tennessee fans
"The surprising part was how many people knew who I was when I first got here," Aguilar said leading up to Day 1 of practice. "I really haven't done anything for this university yet and all these people are just super welcoming, asking for autographs and pictures outside of football which is just awesome."
This just goes to show what the community in Knoxville can do for a young man. Aguilar originally signed with UCLA when he was in the transfer portal, but with Nico Iamaleava making the move to Westwood, it opened the door for him to find a new home.
Tennessee and Josh Heupel came calling and the decision was made easy for Aguilar to take his game to the SEC. He's going to be in a three-way battle with Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre for the starting job, but his experience alone will give him the upper hand.
In back-to-back seasons starting for App State, Aguilar tossed for more than 3,000 yards. He's now getting ready for his first season with Heupel, who's widely known as an offensive genius. Can he be a superstar for this team? That's unknown, but he'll do whatever he can to make Vols fans happy when Saturdays get here this fall.