Joey Aguilar enters 2025 season as FBS active career leader in total offense per game
Tennessee will kick off its 2025 season on Aug. 30 versus Syracuse at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Vols entered fall camp with a starting quarterback competition between Joey Aguilar, George MacIntyre and Jake Merklinger.
"We will have a competition at the quarterback position, three guys inside of that room, really proud of what they've done," Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said at SEC media days. "Joey, since he got there in May, Merklinger and George MacIntyre, what those three guys have done since they've been on campus. They've taken the summer, developed relationships, rapport with the guys around them, their ability to compete in a positive way with each other in the meeting room and on the field. Their ability to have leadership traits and to continue to grow in that. I'm really excited about getting on the field with those guys.'
More: Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar ranked as No. 50 college football player in 2025
Aguilar transferred to Tennessee from UCLA after spring practices. He never played in a game for the Bruins.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound quarterback transferred to UCLA after the 2024 season from Appalachian State. He played at Appalachian State from 2023-24 after transferring from Diablo Valley Community College.
Aguilar enters the 2025 season as the FBS active career leader in total offense per game (288.5, minimum 2,500 yards) and ranks second in passing yards per contest (270.4, minimum 5,000 yards), according to the University of Tennessee.
He appeared in 25 games, including 24 starts, at Appalachian State. Aguilar completed 511-of-850 passing attempts for 6,760 yards, 56 touchdowns and 24 interceptions, while totaling 456 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 140 attempts.
The signal-caller recorded at least 200 passing yards in all 24 starts with the Mountaineers. He had four passing touchdowns in four different contests, and 22 touchdown passes were either to tie a game or give his team a lead. Aguilar earned 2023 Cure Bowl MVP and Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year honors.
From 2021-22 at Diablo Valley Community College, he totaled 2,992 passing yards and 21 touchdowns.
Aguilar earned an undergraduate degree in communication studies from Appalachian State in May.
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