It really hasn't taken long at all for new Tennessee football quarterback and App State transfer Joey Aguilar to win over the fanbase. From the moment he made his way to Knoxville, Aguilar has painted the picture of a young man who couldn't be more thankful to be playing for UT.
He's loaded with talent, but the Vols' new No. 6 isn't going to let that go to his head. Nope, not even for a second. While speaking to the media this week in Knoxville, Aguilar once again turned heads in the best way possible, crediting his family for helping him remain grounded and not overlook the opportunities he's been given, especially the one running Tennessee's offense:
Tennessee players said they were struck by how easy-going and genuine QB Joey Aguilar is.
— Adam Sparks (@AdamSparks) August 20, 2025
You can sense what they’re talking about. pic.twitter.com/wKPDsRPJeN
Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar delivers amazing quote on winning over his teammates' trust
"I grew up working for everything that I got," Aguilar said. "You know, my dad always told me to be grateful and to be humble, mom as well. Coming here, trust takes time to build. You can't force somebody to trust you. I'm just a non-chalant kind of guy, so I'm not trying to come in here and tell everyone they have to trust me and that I'm their guy. I just slowly connect with people here and there, go grab some food and hang out - just have a conversation with everybody, not just a main guy I would say. You have to build trust with every single person on your team whether they play or not."
Those are the words of someone who is no question fit to be a leader for your team. Aguilar hasn't even played in a game for Tennessee yet, but he's becoming a fan favorite. Once Week 1 vs. Syracuse gets here on Aug. 30, it will be time for Aguilar to show everyone what he's made of.
Last weekend, Josh Heupel officially named Aguilar as his QB1, giving him the job over Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre. Aguilar always had the advantage after he tossed for 3,000 yards in back-to-back seasons with App State.
Plenty of people are convinced he's going to make people forget about Nico Iamaleava leaving for UCLA. Thus far, Aguilar's time on campus could not be going any better. Once the season starts, though, Aguilar will work to showcase that he's more than just a guy who knows how to talk to the press - he'll be showcasing his strong right arm and working to get the Vols back to the CFP for the second straight year.