Joey Aguilar to start at QB for No. 24 Tennessee in season opener
Aguilar had two productive seasons at Appalachian State and then transferred to UCLA last December, only to join the Vols after Nico Iamaleava stunningly left Tennessee for UCLA in April. Iamaleava led the Vols to a 10-3 record in 2024 and had been expected to return.
Coach Josh Heupel chose Aguilar over Jake Merklinger, who played in two games last season, and freshman George MacIntyre.
Tennessee opens the season Aug. 30 against Syracuse at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Vols made the College Football Playoff last season, only to be routed in the opening round by eventual national champion Ohio State.
Aguilar made 24 starts in two seasons at Appalachian State, throwing for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
12 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Royals' Salvador Perez out with illness in series opener against Rangers
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals scratched catcher Salvador Perez from the starting lineup of their series opener against the Texas Rangers on Monday night because of an illness. Perez was supposed to catch for starter Michael Wacha and bat fifth in the opener of an important four-game set between teams clinging to wild-card hope. Luke Maile will be behind the plate instead and bat eight in the lineup. Perez, a nine-time All-Star, is hitting .244 with 22 homers and 70 RBIs this season. Maile has become the primary backup in Kansas City after it sent Freddy Fermin to the Padres ahead of last month's nonwaiver trade deadline. But he has only appeared in 11 games this season, hitting .250 with a homer and two RBIs. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP MLB:
Winnipeg Free Press
12 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Elche's late goal salvages draw with Real Betis on return to La Liga
ELCHE, Spain (AP) — Elche needed a late goal at home against Real Betis to salvage a 1-1 draw in its return to La Liga on Monday after a two-year absence. Germán Valera scored the 81st-minute equalizer from inside the area for the host after Aitor Ruibal put Betis ahead in a breakaway in the 21st. Elche, based in south-eastern Spain, spent three consecutive seasons in the first division — from 2020-21 to 2022-23 — before being relegated in 2023. Manuel Pellegrini's Betis was looking for a good start after finishing sixth last season and securing a place in the Europa League. Barcelona began the defense of its league title with a comfortable 3-0 win at nine-man Mallorca on Saturday, while Atletico Madrid squandered a late lead in a 2-1 loss at Espanyol on Sunday. Real Madrid hosts Osasuna on Tuesday. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
42 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Dolphins' De'Von Achane likely will miss practice this week because of calf injury
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins running back De'Von Achane likely will miss this week of practice as he nurses a calf injury, coach Mike McDaniel said Monday. Achane was sidelined for Miami's preseason game against the Lions on Saturday and was held out of the second day of joint practices at Detroit. McDaniel said the team is mostly being preventative by holding Achane out. 'Calves are the ones that you have to be super proactive, especially with explosive players,' McDaniel said. 'We don't want to have a long, strenuous, nagging issue. So we probably won't see De'Von this week after further assessment through the (past) weekend. But that's more preventative in nature just because — all trainers across the league have horror stories with calves if you're too aggressive coming back.' Achane has rushed for 1,707 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons for the Dolphins and is expected to be one of Miami's top offensive weapons this season. The Dolphins will host the Jacksonville Jaguars for one joint practice on Thursday before their preseason finale Saturday night. Defensive tackle Zach Sieler, who has been dealing with an undisclosed injury, will return to practice this week. And tight end Darren Waller could practice for the first time. Waller came out of retirement in July to sign a one-year deal with the Dolphins but has been working out separately from the team as he gets back into football shape. 'This is where we thought a realistic assessment would be made,' McDaniel said, 'and we're kind of making that daily. I'm expecting to see him sooner than later. I (thought) in the back of my mind that it would be this week, but I'm not going to just put him out there this week just because I said it before. I'm hopeful, but it's very soon.' Veteran visits The Dolphins hosted four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Matthew Judon on a free agent visit Monday. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Jaelan Phillips and Chop Robinson sustained injuries over the past week, but McDaniel said bringing in Judon was not related to any potential long-term injuries to the team's linebackers. 'Visiting for visiting purposes,' he said. 'We'll see what it leads to.' Judon had 41 tackles, 5 1/2 sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown in 15 starts for the Atlanta Falcons last year. ___ AP NFL:
