Joey Aguilar may not wear orange and white or take snaps under center at Neyland Stadium, but when you look closely at the way he’s been performing lately and stack that up against the Tennessee Volunteers’ quarterback room, it’s hard not to ask the question: is Aguilar—despite not playing for the Vols—outperforming them anyway?
This narrative isn’t about taking anything away from what the Tennessee quarterbacks are doing. In fact, the Vols have built a solid foundation in their quarterback pipeline under Josh Heupel’s offensive system. Their offense, known for its up-tempo, vertical passing attacks, has become a beacon for dual-threat quarterbacks and pocket passers alike. Yet despite that infrastructure, something about the execution has felt inconsistent, if not entirely stagnant at times. Tennessee’s quarterbacks have shown flashes of brilliance, but flashes don’t win SEC titles. Consistency does. And that’s exactly what Joey Aguilar has been serving up, week after week.
Coming out of junior college, Aguilar wasn’t the name dominating every recruiting board. He was the classic case of overlooked talent—perhaps not fitting the mold of an SEC quarterback physically or lacking the media buzz that often surrounds southern football recruits. But talent, poise, and the ability to read defenses don’t always scream for attention in highlight reels. Sometimes, they show up subtly: in third-down conversions, in two-minute drills, in how a quarterback bounces back after taking a big hit or throwing an interception. In those areas—the gritty, defining aspects of playing quarterback—Aguilar has not only held his own but excelled.
If you step back and compare the decision-making under pressure between Aguilar and the current Tennessee quarterbacks, you begin to see the gap. Aguilar is calm, calculated, and surgical with his passes. He’s not just reacting to what the defense gives him; he’s anticipating it. And that level of processing speed and vision isn’t common in college quarterbacks, especially those who didn’t grow up entrenched in Power 5 media ecosystems. He’s reading coverages before the snap, manipulating safeties with his eyes, and delivering with timing that’s hard to teach.
Meanwhile, Tennessee’s quarterbacks—whether it’s a young arm stepping into a starting role or a veteran trying to regain rhythm—often look like they’re forcing the ball. The decision-making isn’t always clean. Holding the ball too long, late throws across the middle, missing check-downs—these are mistakes that stall drives and kill momentum, particularly in the high-pressure world of SEC football. Aguilar, on the other hand, isn’t making those same mistakes. His timing is impeccable, and more importantly, he’s maximizing every opportunity in the red zone. That’s where games are won, and that’s where Aguilar has quietly separated himself.
The numbers don’t lie either. Even when you adjust for differences in conference strength and supporting cast, Aguilar’s efficiency ratings, completion percentage under pressure, and touchdown-to-interception ratio are either on par or superior to what Tennessee’s quarterbacks have produced. It’s a stark reminder that talent evaluation isn’t always linear. A player from a smaller program—or in Aguilar’s case, one not drenched in national attention—can still produce like a Power 5 starter if given the right scheme, coaching, and preparation.
Aguilar’s footwork and mechanics also deserve a closer look. While Tennessee quarterbacks may have superior physical gifts—arm strength, athleticism, and size—Aguilar has the kind of technical polish that comes from relentless refinement. His release is compact and efficient. His pocket awareness is more developed than most quarterbacks in the SEC, and that allows him to manipulate the pass rush, extend plays, and find his receivers even when the play breaks down. That’s a trait that separates good quarterbacks from great ones.
If you ask around in quarterback circles, coaches often speak about the “it” factor. That intangible presence that a quarterback brings to the huddle, the way he commands a room or rallies his team down two scores with six minutes left. Aguilar has that, too. His leadership has been described by teammates as authentic and unshakable. That’s not something you can measure with a combine stat or a 40-yard dash time, but it shows up every Saturday. And when juxtaposed against the Vols’ signal-callers—who are still, in many ways, finding their voice as leaders—Aguilar’s maturity stands out even more.
There’s also the issue of adaptability. Tennessee’s quarterbacks have, at times, struggled to adjust mid-game when defenses throw new looks at them. Defensive coordinators in the SEC are notoriously crafty, mixing coverages and blitz packages to confuse young quarterbacks. And while Tennessee’s offensive scheme is designed to move quickly and simplify reads, that speed can sometimes become a liability when the quarterback is forced to process information without enough time to think.
Aguilar, however, has shown a remarkable ability to adjust. Whether it’s a disguised zone blitz or a late-shifting secondary, he’s making the right reads and not panicking. That kind of awareness suggests a deep understanding of both his own offense and the defensive schemes he’s facing. It’s football IQ on display, and it’s one more area where he’s subtly outperforming quarterbacks in more high-profile programs like Tennessee.
To fully appreciate what Aguilar is doing, you have to consider his path. This isn’t a quarterback who was handed the reins at a blueblood program with five-star recruits at every skill position. He’s working with less and producing more. He’s making average receivers look dynamic, elevating the play of his offensive line, and turning broken plays into explosive gains. In a way, he embodies the kind of underdog grit that has historically defined college football legends. He’s not being spoon-fed success; he’s grinding for every inch.
And the contrast with Tennessee only sharpens from there. The Vols’ offense has had its moments, but the inconsistency has been frustrating for fans who expected a leap forward this season. The tempo is there, the playbook is diverse, and the skill positions are talented, but the execution hasn’t followed suit. Drives stall in the red zone. Turnovers creep in during critical moments. Clock management issues arise late in games. These are symptoms of a quarterback unit still searching for cohesion and identity. Aguilar, on the other hand, already has both.
One could argue that if you placed Aguilar in Tennessee’s system—with its up-tempo style and arsenal of weapons—his production would explode. With more time to throw, better protection, and receivers with SEC-level speed, he might be lighting up the scoreboard even more than he is now. That’s the hypothetical that turns heads in coaching rooms and quarterback meetings. Aguilar isn’t just performing well; he’s doing so in an environment where the margin for error is thin and the spotlight isn’t always shining. And yet, he’s thriving.
It’s also worth mentioning that Aguilar’s trajectory suggests long-term success. Some quarterbacks peak early and struggle to adapt as defenses evolve and film accumulates. Aguilar, however, seems to be getting better with each outing. His mechanics are tighter. His reads are faster. His command of the offense is growing. Meanwhile, Tennessee quarterbacks are still navigating growing pains, alternating between brilliance and baffling mistakes. That kind of volatility can derail seasons in the SEC.
Scouts and analysts are starting to take notice, too. While Aguilar may not be a household name yet, he’s climbing draft boards and earning respect in scouting circles for his poise, mechanics, and mental approach to the game. His film shows a quarterback who knows where to go with the ball, who protects possession, and who keeps his team in every game. Those are the qualities that translate to the next level—and that sometimes feel missing in Tennessee’s current quarterback situation.
At the heart of all this is a deeper truth about college football: development matters as much as recruitment. A five-star prospect with raw tools won’t win you games unless they’re molded, sharpened, and disciplined. Aguilar might not have been the most celebrated recruit, but he’s been developed the right way. His fundamentals, decision-making, and leadership suggest a quarterback who’s been coached hard, held accountable, and given room to grow. That’s the formula for long-term success. Tennessee’s quarterbacks may yet get there, but right now, Aguilar is ahead.
There’s no shame in recognizing that sometimes a player outside your program is simply playing better football. Joey Aguilar might not wear the Power T, but he’s setting a standard that Tennessee’s quarterbacks should be chasing. His performance isn’t just impressive; it’s instructive. It shows what happens when preparation meets opportunity, when discipline outperforms hype, and when execution becomes habit.
This isn’t a call for Tennessee to panic or overhaul its quarterback room. The talent is there, and the coaching staff has a proven track record of developing offensive stars. But Aguilar’s rise serves as both a benchmark and a reminder. Quarterback play isn’t about pedigree or platform—it’s about production. And right now, Joey Aguilar is producing at a level that deserves to be talked about in the same breath as the best in the country.
In time, Tennessee’s quarterbacks may bridge the gap. They may find the consistency, confidence, and composure that Aguilar brings every Saturday. But for now, it’s clear: Joey Aguilar may not be in Knoxville, but he’s still casting a long shadow over the Tennessee quarterback room. He’s the kind of quarterback every team wishes they had—not because of where he’s from or how he got there, but because of what he’s doing with the ball in his hands. And that, more than anything else, is what college football is all about.
