Tennessee names starting quarterback

Joey Aguilar will start Tennessee’s 2025 season after earning the quarterback job in preseason camp.

Tennessee names Joey Aguilar starting quarterback

Tennessee will open the 2025 season with Joey Aguilar as its starting quarterback after the Vols announced the decision Sunday night following the end of preseason camp. The veteran transfer beat out redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger, and Aguilar arrives from Appalachian State by way of UCLA, ready to run a faster offense. In two seasons with App State he started 24 games and threw for 6,760 yards with 56 touchdowns, helping the Mountaineers reach the Sun Belt Championship Game. Tennessee posted the announcement on X and Instagram with the caption At the helm, and Aguilar will make his 25th career start in the season opener against Syracuse in Atlanta on August 30.

Coach Josh Heupel and offensive coordinator Joey Halzle stressed that the job was earned through camp work and fit with the system, not simply by age or pedigree. Aguilar has worked to learn the offense quickly, staying late in the Anderson Training Center and bonding with teammates, including Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre. Heupel noted the challenge of switching to a fast-paced scheme, while Halzle described the process of teaching fundamentals and eye placement rather than dropping in an older quarterback. Aguilar called the local fan base welcoming and mentioned building trust with the receivers and offensive line as a priority in the early days.

Aguilar’s rise shows how modern college programs rely on the transfer portal to reshape key positions and maintain momentum. He brings big-game experience but must quickly adapt to Tennessee’s high-speed offense and complex reads. That transition will test not only his ability to execute the scheme but also his leadership in a room where Merklinger and MacIntyre are pushing for time. If Aguilar fits, the Vols gain a signal caller who can push tempo and match the program’s recent success; if not, the coaching staff will face pressure to recalibrate and protect a young roster during a demanding schedule.

Highlights

The season will test how quickly a new starter can shape a team around one signal caller.