Former Tennessee player provides unique insight on UCLA transfer QB Joey Aguilar that bodes well for the Vols in 2025
UCLA transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar, who spent the last two seasons at Appalachian State, will compete with redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre for the Tennessee Vols' starting quarterback job this summer/fall. Aguilar landed with the Vols in the wake of quarterback Nico Iamaleava's transfer from Tennessee to UCLA. Tennessee's quarterback competition […]
UCLA transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar, who spent the last two seasons at Appalachian State, will compete with redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre for the Tennessee Vols' starting quarterback job this summer/fall.
Aguilar landed with the Vols in the wake of quarterback Nico Iamaleava's transfer from Tennessee to UCLA.
Tennessee's quarterback competition is a wide open battle, though many consider Aguilar the favorite to win the job due to his two seasons of starting experience at Appalachian State (Merklinger attempted just nine passes as a true freshman for the Vols last season, while Aguilar had 850 attempts during his two seasons at App State).
Former Vols linebacker Dale Jones, who had over 20 years of assistant coaching experience at Appalachian State before leaving the program after the 2022 season, joined Big Orange Sunday with Doug Matthews recently and he shared his thoughts on Aguilar (Jones, unsurprisingly, still keeps up closely with Appalachian State football).
"I think the biggest thing is he's played the game," said Jones of Aguilar. "And I think that if you go back two years ago, when they had a pretty decent offensive line, he was outstanding. I think of him as more of a gunslinger. He can throw the ball, he can make all the throws, he runs well. I just think he's an outstanding player…I definitely like him."
"I think the number one thing is he can make all the throws," continued Jones when asked why Aguilar fits well in Tennessee's offense. "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."
It sounds like Aguilar should be a perfect fit in Josh Heupel's offense. One thing that I felt Iamaleava struggled with last season was waiting just a tick too long to make the throw when a receiver was open. It felt like Iamaleava was scared of making a mistake (which is understandable — you gotta take care of the football).
Aguilar, on the other hand, doesn't sound like he'll be hesitant to pull the trigger when a receiver flashes open. Now, that could mean that Tennessee has to deal with some interceptions from time to time, but it should also result in fewer missed downfield opportunities.
That is, of course, if Aguilar ends up winning the job. We certainly shouldn't count out Merklinger or MacIntyre.
