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Tennessee vs. Georgia: ESPN broadcast adds new details on Joey Aguilar transfer to replace Nico Iamaleava

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh9 hours agogriffin_mcveigh
Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) warms up before a college football game between Tennessee and ETSU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, on August 30, 2025.
Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) warms up before a college football game between Tennessee and ETSU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, on August 30, 2025.

There might not be a more popular man on their respective campus than Joey Aguilar. Transferring in from UCLA to replace Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee has welcomed the quarterback with open arms. His play early in the season only adds to the massive fanfare.

Aguilar’s transfer story is already well documented. However, ESPN’s Holly Rowe added more to the lore during the first quarter of Saturday’s game against Georgia. She laid out exactly how hard Aguilar worked at getting comfortable inside the Tennessee offense.

“Joey Aguilar had to finish some classwork, so he didn’t get to Knoxville until May, so he had to learn the offense over Zoom,” Rowe said. “When he did get here, 14 hours a day, six days a week, trying to work with the coaches in the building.”

Technically, Aguilar came to Rocky Top with a quarterback competition on his hands. Head coach Josh Heupel wanted to see him compete against George MacIntyre and Jake Merklinger. The hard work Rowe described was certainly needed in order to win the job.

Heupel must hold no doubts about his decision thus far. Aguilar has 535 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions through two games while completing 66.1% of his throws. Tennessee got a big-time opening win against Syracuse before taking care of business vs. East Tennessee State. Everyone wondered how Aguilar would respond to a completely different level of competition, Georgia.

“This is where you really find out where you are as an offense,” ESPN Kirk Herbstreit said on Thursday. “But what (Joey Aguilar) is doing, for a guy that went from App State to UCLA and then Nico went to UCLA. He goes to Knoxville. Two weeks in, he seems to be in complete command. In this NIL and transfer portal era, he looks to be a guy where you know what you’re gonna get and Josh Heupel has done great work with him up to this point. This will be a big test.”

Early on, so far so good. Tennessee goes into the second quarter with 21 points already on the board. Aguilar seemingly cannot miss, no matter from what depth he throws. Short crossing routes have been money but the deep ball proved effective with a long touchdown to Chris Brazzell II.

There is still a lot of football left to be played. Aguilar looks more than the part, hoping to get this one past the finish line for a massive win in Knoxville.