Former Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback and current ESPN/SEC Network analyst Jordan Rodgers has some concerns about the Tennessee Vols heading into the 2025 season.

Rodgers recently joined Cole Cubelic’s Cube Show and he pointed out Tennessee as the team he just can’t figure out heading into the season.

The former Vanderbilt quarterback specifically seems to have some concerns about Vols starting quarterback Joey Aguilar.

Aguilar, a former Appalachian State quarterback who transferred from UCLA to Tennessee in April in the wake of Nico Iamaleava’s decision to leave Rocky Top, won the Volunteers’ starting quarterback battle over redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre.

“Holy hell, like, who are they going to be on offense,” said Rodgers. “The receivers are depleted. There’s some legal issues involved with (redshirt junior wide receiver) Chris Brazzell as well — which I think I saw got taken care of, so he should be there. [They have] the talented freshman [wide receiver] from last year, Mike Matthews. Other than that, nobody’s proven.

“And also, I think my biggest concern, I think we talked about this at media days, is when you flip on the tape with Joey Aguilar, there’s some [things] to like. He’s got some moxie — I know that gets thrown around. But my biggest concern is that the easy throws don’t look easy to him. And in this offense, if you can’t throw a bubble screen and a hitch and a slant — to take advantage of the width that this scheme uses — on the money. And I’m talking about that needs to be an upfield shoulder, catch after the run on a slant. That needs to be six inches out in front, catch after the run. If you can’t make those throws, this offense doesn’t go. This offense gets suffocated. It becomes deep shots, or if you’re stacking the box, then what do you do?”

“And with all the pieces they lost on defense, as good as this defense has been, they are depleted up front,” continued Rodgers. “Their strength last year was how much depth they had — especially along the interior defensive line. I’m concerned about that. I’m concerned about the offense, scheme wise, how the fit of Joey Aguilar is. And then the depth and just the lack of experience on the defensive side of the ball. That’s the unit that kept them in it last year, because the offense was fine. It was okay. It was never really good. And if they’re just okay again, and that defense isn’t elite, then [I have] no idea.

“But maybe Aguilar, you know, has something to him that Nico didn’t. Because I think there’s a confidence that Aguilar has that I think at times with Nico you didn’t see in some of his throws. You didn’t see him step into it and be so confident that he can rip that deep ball, that he can make that throw. And I think [Nico] kind of got tight at times. Maybe Aguilar has that. Maybe it unlocks the offense. I don’t know, though……Aguilar doesn’t have great arm strength. Not saying he’s not talented by any stretch of the imagination. But the easy throws don’t always look easy. They may be completions to a hitch, but it may be a little outside or he drags a receiver the wrong direction in zone. It’s still a completion, but it’s not a catch after the run. That’s what I’m concerned about.”

There’s a few things that Rodgers said that I think are spot on. I think Aguilar has some moxie and confidence that Iamaleava didn’t have last season (I think Iamaleava played tight at times — almost like he was trying to play perfect instead of just playing free). I also agree that Tennessee’s wide receiver room, while talented, is a big unknown entering the season.

There’s some other things that Rodgers mentioned, however, that I’m not sure so sure about.

For starters, I think the Vols still have plenty of talent and depth on the defensive side of the ball. The defensive line isn’t quite as a deep as last season, but it’s still deeper than most in the SEC. Tennessee also has some young defensive linemen that are set to contribute this fall. Contrary to what Rodgers said, the defensive side of the ball for the Vols has plenty of experience.

As for his comments about Aguilar, well, we’ll just have to see how things go when the season starts. I haven’t seen Aguilar play a game in Tennessee’s scheme — no one has — so it’s tough to predict how he’ll perform.

Now, what I do think is important to point out is that folks who have watched Aguilar up close don’t agree with Rodgers’ arm strength comments.

Former Vols linebacker Dale Jones, who is a former Appalachian State assistant coach (Jones left App State the year before Aguilar arrived in Boone, but he still keeps up closely with the program), said earlier this summer that Aguilar can make all the throws.

“I think the number one thing is he can make all the throws,” said Jones in June during an appearance on Big Orange Sunday with Doug Matthews. “He’s got a strong arm. And one thing I like about him is, to me, he’s like a gunslinger. He’s going to throw the football. He’s not going to sit there and make sure [he makes] a perfect throw — he’s going to sling the ball.” 

Additionally, a Group of Five recruiting director who competed against Aguilar and App State last season told The Athletic this month that the California native has a “cannon”.

“He’s got a cannon, so that will fit that offense perfectly, just taking the deep shots and all that,” said the Group of 5 recruiting director.

It’s still talking season for another few days. We’ll find out what Aguilar has in the tank on August 30, when the Volunteers open the 2025 season in Atlanta against Syracuse.

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