QB Joey Aguilar takes over this jersey number with star-studded Tennessee football history
That was among a few new jersey numbers on the updated Vols roster, which was released on July 11.
It's a new number for Aguilar. He wore No. 16 as an under-recruited player at Diablo Valley College. Then he wore No. 4 at both Appalachian State as the starting quarterback and at UCLA in spring practice before transferring to Tennessee.
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Aguilar will compete with redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre for the starting quarterback spot in the 2025 season. Merklinger remains No. 12, and MacIntyre will wear No. 15.
Plenty of quarterbacks, NFL players and team captains have worn No. 6 for Tennessee. And it's been donned by some of coach Josh Heupel's best players.
Here's a quick history of No. 6 for Tennessee as Aguilar takes it over.
These six Tennessee quarterbacks wore No. 6
Historical records of UT jersey numbers go back to the 1930s. But single-digit numbers weren't widely used in the early era of college football, so the first recorded No. 6 for the Vols was defensive back David Parsons in 1973.
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Since then, six quarterbacks have worn No. 6. Aguilar will be the seventh.
Jimmy Streater was a record-breaking dual-threat quarterback as a No. 6 in the late 1970s. Steve Alatorre wore No. 6 as a part-time starter in 1980 before switching to No. 16.
Tennessee Vols quarterback Jimmy Streater in the late 70's.
Alan Cockrell was the next No. 6. He was a star quarterback and baseball player for the Vols, being drafted in the first round of the 1984 MLB Draft.
Reserve quarterbacks Tyler Page, Mike Wegzyn and Brandon Hines wore No. 6 in the 2010s.
SIZING UP VOLS QB BATTLE Joey Aguilar vs Jake Merklinger, George MacIntyre
It's been a lucky No. 6 under Josh Heupel
Perhaps no jersey number has touted more success than No. 6 in the Heupel era.
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In 2021-22, edge rusher Byron Young wore No. 6. He became an All-SEC player and a third-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams.
In 2023, running back Dylan Sampson and linebacker Aaron Beasley both switched from No. 24 to No. 6. The new number served them well. Beasley was UT's second-leading tackler in 2023. Sampson was the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year and a fourth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns.
Aguilar takes over No. 6 after that hot streak of Vols.
Tennessee offensive lineman Cooper Mays (63), wide receiver Bru McCoy (5), and quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) surround running back Dylan Sampson (6) to celebrate Sampson's touchdown during an NCAA college football game against Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville. Tenn.
Alvin Kamara, other NFL players wore No. 6 for Vols
Running back Alvin Kamara wore No. 6 for the Vols in 2015-16. He was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and a five-time Pro Bowl selection, albeit while wearing No. 41 for the New Orleans Saints.
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Kamara also was one of three team captains to wear No. 6 at Tennessee. Wide receiver JJ McCleskey (1992) and defensive lineman Constantin Ritzmann (2003) were the others.
In terms of NFL draft picks, Young, Sampson, cornerback Alontae Taylor (second round, Saints) and wide receiver Denarius Moore (fifth round, Raiders) also wore No. 6 at Tennessee.
First, Aguilar must win the starting quarterback job. Then he must play well for a shot at the NFL.
Why Joey Aguilar won't wear No. 4 for Tennessee
Presumably, Aguilar likes No. 4.
It's what he wore as a record-breaking passer and the 2023 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year at Appalachian State, and he chose No. 4 when he transferred to UCLA. However, that was a brief stint ended when quarterback Nico Iamaleava transferred there from Tennessee.
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However, No. 4 is already shared by three Vols on the 2025 roster.
On offense, wide receiver Mike Matthews switched from No. 10 to No. 4 this offseason. By rule, players wearing the same number can't be on the field at the same time.
On defense, freshman cornerback Ty Redmond switched from No. 27 to No. 4.
No. 4 is also worn by defensive back Jourdan Thomas, but he is taking a medical redshirt in 2025 due to a serious knee injury suffered during the 2024 preseason.
Tennessee's other new jersey numbers for 2025
Several returning UT players changed their numbers. Other new players were assigned their Vols jersey number on the 2025 roster.
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Here's a rundown of the updated jersey numbers.
1 – Travis Smith Jr. (was 80 in spring)
2 – Peyton Lewis (was 27 last season)
3 – Jack Van Dorselaer (was 89 in spring)
4 – Mike Matthews (was 10 last season)
4 – Ty Redmond (was 27 in spring)
5 – Radarious Jackson (was 84 in spring)
5 – Daevin Hobbs (was 53 last season)
6 – Joey Aguilar (new player)
7 – DaSaahn Brame (was 88 in spring)
8 – Colton Hood (new player)
9 – Star Thomas (was 33 in spring)
9 – Mariyon Dye (was 52 in spring)
10 – Kaleb Beasley (was 25 last season)
11 – Jordan Burns (was 54 last season)
12 – Jaedon Harmon (was 48 in spring)
13 – Mason Phillips (new player)
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17 – Ethan Utley (was 97 in spring)
19 – Daune Morris (was 31 in spring)
20 – Justin Baker (was 28 in spring)
21 – Tre Poteat (was 36 in spring)
24 – Dylan Lewis (was 34 in spring)
25 – Timothy Merritt (was 35 in spring)
27 – Jadon Perlotte (was 41 in spring)
34 – Emmanuel Okoye (was 98 last season)
35 – Carson Gentle (was 95 last season)
41 – Steele Katina (was 44 last season)
44 – Christian Gass (was 46 in spring)
47 – John Rosen (new player)
51 – Jeremias Heard (was 60 last season)
58 – Nic Moore (was 74 last season)
74 – Sham Umarov (was 79 last season)
84 – Tommy Winton III (was 30 last season)
88 – Deon Hardin (was 38 in spring)
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89 – Joakim Dodson (new player)
93 – Josh Schell (new player)
97 – Grady Dangerfield (new player)
99 – Charles House III (new player)
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Joey Aguilar Tennessee football jersey number has star-studded history
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