Aguilar named Tennessee starter

Joey Aguilar will lead Tennessee’s offense in 2025 after a winding transfer path and a push from a competitive quarterback room.

Tennessee names Joey Aguilar starting quarterback ahead of 2025 season

Tennessee has named Joey Aguilar its starting quarterback for the 2025 campaign, per VolQuest. He beat out redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre for the job after a year that saw him move from Appalachian State to UCLA and then land at Tennessee when Nico Iamaleava transferred away. Aguilar’s college resume includes 6,760 passing yards and 56 touchdowns over two seasons at Appalachian State, and a single-season program record of 3,757 passing yards with 33 TDs in 2023. He also has 456 rushing yards and five rushing scores. The move makes Aguilar the most experienced quarterback in Tennessee’s 2025 depth chart. Tennessee will open the season with Syracuse on August 30, a game that will be shown at noon on ABC.

Head coach Josh Heupel stressed that the fit went beyond tape, pointing to maturity and culture as key factors in the decision.

Aguilar’s selection arrives as Tennessee aims to boost a pass-heavy attack under Heupel. Last season’s passing output was modest by modern standards, and Aguilar’s accuracy and decision-making could help unlock more vertical looks. The quarterback room now centers on a veteran presence with two younger peers waiting in the wings, which may pressure the true freshman to accelerate development. While the system is known for putting quarterbacks in favorable situations, the transition to Knoxville also comes with questions about how quickly Aguilar can command Tennessee’s tempo in high-stakes games early in the schedule.

Highlights

The season will reveal whether a well-traveled quarterback can lift a program that has relied on precision timing and explosive plays.