‘That’s kind of what this place was craving’ – ETSU head coach Will Healy drops telling quote about Tennessee Vols QB Joey Aguilar
Tennessee Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar was terrific on Saturday in UT’s 72-17 demolition of East Tennessee State. Aguilar passed for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the win. He didn’t throw a pass in the second half. The former UCLA quarterback looked at home in his first home start for the Volunteers. And Tennessee’s offense […]
Tennessee Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar was terrific on Saturday in UT’s 72-17 demolition of East Tennessee State.
Aguilar passed for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the win. He didn’t throw a pass in the second half.
The former UCLA quarterback looked at home in his first home start for the Volunteers. And Tennessee’s offense looked like the Josh Heupel offense that Vols fans grew to love in 2021 and 2022.
Aguilar, of course, is only in this situation because Nico Iamaleava, the player that everyone expected to be the Vols’ starting quarterback in 2025, unexpectedly transferred to UCLA in April.
As a result, Aguilar left SoCal for Rocky Top. So far, it’s a move that’s worked out wonderfully for Aguilar and Tennessee.
ETSU head coach Will Healy says Joey Aguilar is what Vols fans have been craving
East Tennessee State head coach Will Healy met with reporters after the loss to the Vols and he made an interesting comment about Aguilar.
“I thought their quarterback made great decisions [and] was really accurate,” said Healy. “He’s a really impressive leader. And I think that’s kind of what this place was craving was a guy that they could relate to and they respected and that was going to work really hard for them. And it seems to be what they got with him. Obviously, he’s talented.”
Healy didn’t reference the Iamaleava situation while discussing Aguilar, but he didn’t have to — he said enough when he noted that the Tennessee fan base had been “craving” a quarterback like Aguilar.
The marriage between Iamaleava and Tennessee always felt a little off. And I don’t mean that in a negative way for either side. Iamaleava worked hard to be the guy for the Vols. But at times it felt more like fans (and maybe even the coaching staff) wanted him to be the guy instead of believing he was the guy.
With Aguilar, fans seem to believe he is the guy. Sometimes, the fit just doesn’t work. Fortunately for Tennessee, Aguilar appears to be a perfect fit.
Tennessee Volunteers News
Tennessee Vols QB Joey Aguilar confirms suspicion about his 53-yard touchdown pass to WR Mike Matthews
Tennessee Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar and wide receiver Mike Matthews had UT football fans evoking memories of Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt on Saturday afternoon in Neyland Stadium. Aguilar and Matthews connected on a 53-yard touchdown pass in the first half of Tennessee’s dominant 72-17 win against East Tennessee State. The pass from Aguilar was […]
