The Tennessee Volunteers have officially added Joey Aguilar to their quarterback room, and while the name may not be the one plastered across headlines or message boards in the offseason quarterback wishlists, make no mistake—this is a move that adds both experience and intrigue to a position battle that remains very much unsettled in Knoxville. Aguilar isn’t the five-star, can’t-miss prospect fans fantasized about when the transfer portal carousel began spinning this spring, but he’s a proven, poised passer with the kind of résumé that gives Josh Heupel and his staff exactly what they need: competition, depth, and a potential spark.
The reality for Tennessee football in 2025 is clear—they need a steady hand at quarterback to keep the program moving forward. With Joe Milton III off to the NFL and the Nico Iamaleava era still uncertain in its execution, the Vols were never going to sit on their hands. They needed a veteran who wouldn’t blink in the face of competition, someone with a track record of making plays under pressure. That’s what they’re getting in Joey Aguilar, the former Appalachian State standout who now finds himself wearing orange and white.
Aguilar’s path to the SEC is far from conventional, but then again, many of college football’s best stories are born in the margins. He didn’t come out of high school with a crown or a five-star rating. He didn’t dominate the headlines during his time at Diablo Valley College in California, and even when he made the jump to Appalachian State, he was still flying under the national radar. But when he got his shot, he didn’t flinch. He delivered.
In 2023, Aguilar took over as the Mountaineers’ starter and immediately showcased his ability to command an offense. That year, he passed for over 3,400 yards and 33 touchdowns, leading App State to a Sun Belt Championship Game appearance. He proved he could sling the ball with confidence, make smart decisions, and elevate the players around him. Most importantly, he proved he could win. His blend of pocket presence, mobility, and touch downfield made him one of the most productive quarterbacks outside the Power Five, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Tennessee’s coaching staff.
Josh Heupel’s offense is built for quarterbacks who can read the field quickly, make decisive throws, and stretch defenses vertically. While Aguilar doesn’t possess the raw athleticism of some of the higher-rated signal callers in this year’s portal class, what he does bring is a polished skill set and a football IQ that could make him a strong fit for what the Vols want to do offensively. He’s not a system quarterback—he’s a competitor. And in a conference as unforgiving as the SEC, that matters more than most fans might realize.
There will, of course, be questions about how his game translates to the speed and physicality of SEC defenses. The jump from the Sun Belt to the SEC is significant, especially when you consider the caliber of defensive linemen and defensive backs he’ll be going up against week after week. But Heupel and his staff clearly believe Aguilar has what it takes to compete. They’ve seen the tape. They’ve done the evaluations. And at a time when the transfer portal has become a high-risk, high-reward game of musical chairs, this is a calculated bet on a player who’s shown he can produce when given the keys to the offense.
It’s also worth noting that Aguilar’s arrival doesn’t necessarily spell the end of the Nico Iamaleava hype train—it just changes the dynamics in the quarterback room. Nico, the former five-star phenom and heir apparent, remains a tantalizing talent. But talent alone doesn’t win games. Production does. Consistency does. Leadership does. And if there’s one thing Joey Aguilar has shown throughout his football journey, it’s that he doesn’t back down from a challenge.
This is exactly what Tennessee needs heading into the summer and fall: a legitimate competition. Too often, programs fall into the trap of handing jobs to unproven players based on recruiting rankings rather than performance. Heupel, to his credit, has made it clear that no one is guaranteed anything. Every snap will be earned. And now, with Aguilar in the mix, those practice reps just got a lot more intense.
The ripple effect of this move extends beyond just the quarterback position. When players see their coaching staff bringing in someone with Aguilar’s pedigree, it sends a message: we’re here to win now. No rebuild. No excuses. Tennessee is trying to stack wins and climb back into the upper echelon of the SEC, and that means assembling a roster that can compete every Saturday, regardless of age or potential.
For Aguilar, this opportunity is a dream come true. Few junior college players ever imagine themselves suiting up in Neyland Stadium, let alone battling for a starting job under the lights on a Saturday night in front of 100,000 fans. But he’s earned this moment. And he’s not just here to hold a clipboard or offer mentorship. He’s here to win the job. To prove that he belongs. To show the SEC—and the country—that a kid from Antioch, California, can walk into one of college football’s most storied programs and make an impact.
Tennessee fans may have spent the past few months dreaming of splashier names—quarterbacks with Heisman hype or jaw-dropping highlight reels—but sometimes the most impactful additions are the ones that come in quietly and let their play do the talking. Aguilar isn’t going to be featured in every preseason magazine or watchlist, but if he wins the job or even pushes Nico to another level, his presence will be felt.
Heupel has always been a quarterback’s coach. He understands the position better than most, and he knows what it takes to win in this league. If he sees something in Aguilar, fans would do well to take notice. Because this coaching staff doesn’t hand out opportunities lightly. They saw something in Hendon Hooker when no one else did. They turned Joe Milton into a more complete passer. And now, they’re betting that Joey Aguilar might just be the next name to add to that list of success stories.