Tennessee QB battle: Josh Heupel updates timeline on process

With Nico Iamaleava‘s unexpected departure this offseason, Tennessee‘s starting quarterback spot is wide open. On Tuesday, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel was asked if he’d like to know who his QB1 will be sooner rather than later.

“Absolutely,” Heupel said. “That gives him more time to build continuity, whatever it might be. But, at the end of the day, I think it’s really important for me say at media days that like somebody’s got to go earn it, and it’s not in one throw. It’s not in one day.

“It’s the consistency of who you are, the growth of who you are, and how you continue to grow from practice to practice. And I think it’s important the staff sees that. But most importantly, I think your players see that as well.”

It’s currently a three-man race in Tennessee’s quarterback room. Joey Aguilar is the frontrunner. He transferred to Tennessee this offseason from UCLA after Iamaleava joined the Bruins, essentially completing a college football trade.

Aguilar has more experience than any of his competition for the position. He spent two seasons as Appalachian State’s starting quarterback before transferring to UCLA. In the 2024 campaign, he tallied 3,003 passing yards and 23 touchdowns, compared to 14 interceptions.

Redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger is widely considered the greatest threat to Aguilar securing the QB1 title. Merklinger was a four-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle and had a solid showing in Tennessee’s spring game.

While he lacks game experience, he’s had more time than Aguilar to soak in Tennessee’s offensive schemes. True freshman George MacIntyre is the final quarterback in the hunt for the Volunteers’ starting slot behind center.

He was the No. 15 quarterback in the 2025 recruiting cycle, but is considered the least likely to land the coveted starting spot. On Tuesday, Heupel emphasized the importance of being on the same page as his players.

“The communication side of it, it impacts it a great deal,” Heupel said. “… When they got back in the summer, they understood this isn’t something that’s going to be decided in June. It’s not going to be decided in July. Got to go earn it and take it during the course of training camp.

“Everything that you do is a part of who you are as a player, but also how you’re impacting and ultimately making the 10 guys around you better too. As we go through training camp, those conversations will be had with, collectively, the group as well, so that they can see that it’s transparent, it’s real, and there’s no misinformation.”