Former UCLA Quarterback Joey Aguilar Sparks Interest at SEC Media Days as Tennessee Evaluates Options for Starting Job This Season
When Joey Aguilar’s name came up during SEC Football Media Days in Atlanta, it wasn’t by accident. The former UCLA Bruin and now Tennessee Volunteer has quickly become one of the most talked-about players heading into the 2025 SEC football season. Mentioned by head coach Josh Heupel and multiple Tennessee players on Tuesday, Aguilar’s presence in the quarterback room has introduced a new dynamic to a position already overflowing with anticipation, uncertainty, and competitive fire.
Aguilar, a senior transfer, arrived in Knoxville this offseason looking for a fresh start and a chance to play in a more aggressive, pass-happy system. At UCLA, he showed flashes of promise in 2024, stepping into the starting role midway through the season due to injuries and putting up respectable numbers—over 1,200 yards passing, eight touchdowns, and only three interceptions in six starts. While not a household name in the Pac-12, Aguilar impressed scouts with his decision-making, calm demeanor, and ability to avoid costly mistakes.
At SEC Media Days, Heupel made it clear that Aguilar isn’t just a veteran backup or depth piece—he’s firmly in the mix to start for Tennessee.
“Joey’s come in with the right mindset,” Heupel said. “He’s a mature guy, knows how to operate under pressure, and he’s picking things up fast. He’s going to compete.”
Aguilar’s name dropped naturally during a question about the quarterback situation post-Nico Iamaleava, and Heupel didn’t hesitate to praise his new addition. It was a telling moment—especially in an event where coaches are often guarded and vague. The mention sparked buzz not just among reporters in Atlanta but across the college football landscape.
With Iamaleava’s spring departure still a fresh memory, Tennessee’s quarterback battle has become one of the most closely watched competitions in the country. Alongside Aguilar, redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman Adrian Washington are vying for the starting role. All three quarterbacks bring different styles, experiences, and skill sets, but Aguilar offers something the others can’t—real college starts and the poise that comes from playing in hostile environments.
Linebacker Elijah Herring, representing Tennessee at media days, echoed Heupel’s sentiments. “Joey came in and instantly got respect,” Herring said. “He’s calm in the huddle, he knows how to communicate with guys, and he’s always staying after practice to get extra reps. He’s one of those guys that just works.”
Herring’s words carried weight. This is a Tennessee team that isn’t looking to rebuild—it’s looking to reload. And in the SEC, where quarterback play often defines championship contenders, having someone like Aguilar in the room is invaluable.
Aguilar’s transition to Tennessee has been surprisingly smooth. During spring practices and summer workouts, he immersed himself in the playbook, spent extra hours with receivers, and became a regular in the film room. Despite being the new face on campus, he quickly earned praise from offensive coordinator Joey Halzle for his ability to adapt to the Vols’ fast-paced system.
“Joey’s been a sponge,” Halzle said. “He wants to learn. He asks questions. He wants to know why we’re doing things, not just what. That’s the kind of quarterback we want.”
Aguilar’s playing style is a blend of structure and subtle creativity. He’s not a scrambler by nature, but he can extend plays when necessary. He’s not the flashiest deep-ball thrower, but he’s accurate and reads the field well. In a system like Tennessee’s—which thrives on quick reads, tempo, and spacing—those traits may be enough to separate him from the competition.
Still, he’ll have to earn it.
Jake Merklinger, who has been with the program since 2023, knows the system inside and out. His understanding of Heupel’s offense gives him a leg up in the competition. He’s comfortable running tempo, has developed chemistry with Tennessee’s receivers, and looked sharp in the spring game. While not as seasoned as Aguilar, Merklinger has the advantage of continuity.
Adrian Washington, the electric freshman from Texas, is the wild card. His arm talent and mobility are jaw-dropping at times. He’s raw, sure—but his ceiling might be the highest of the three. Coaches have been careful not to rush him, but fans and insiders alike can’t ignore the potential.
For now, Aguilar is staying focused on what he can control—his preparation, his execution in practice, and his leadership in the locker room.
“I didn’t come here expecting anything to be handed to me,” Aguilar said in a short interview on Tuesday. “I came here to compete. This offense fits me, the guys around me are great, and I’m just doing whatever I can to help this team win.”
That mindset has endeared him to his new teammates and coaches. Veteran wideout Bru McCoy mentioned Aguilar’s arrival as a “steadying force” in the locker room after Iamaleava left. “When you lose a guy like Nico, everyone starts asking questions. But Joey came in, and he wasn’t worried about that. He just worked.”
At a place like Tennessee, where expectations are high and the scrutiny is constant, having a quarterback who stays composed and steady might be just what the program needs. The schedule this fall isn’t forgiving—early matchups against North Carolina and Mississippi State will test whichever quarterback wins the job, and by midseason, the Vols face a brutal stretch that includes Alabama and Georgia.
Whoever starts will need to be ready.
Aguilar’s SEC Media Days mention was more than just a throwaway line. It was a subtle signal from the coaching staff that he’s not just a transfer with potential—he’s a serious contender to lead Tennessee in 2025. And if history has taught us anything in the Heupel era, it’s that quarterbacks who embrace the system and stay composed under pressure often thrive.
In the modern landscape of college football, the portal can bring chaos—or it can bring opportunity. For Joey Aguilar, it’s the latter. His story may not have started in Knoxville, but it could very well find its defining chapter there.
If he wins the job—and that’s still very much up in the air—Aguilar will walk into Neyland Stadium as the latest in a line of quarterbacks tasked with carrying the weight of one of the SEC’s proudest programs. And based on what we heard Tuesday in Atlanta, that possibility is becoming more real with each passing practice.
