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What Kirby Smart has seen from Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar through two games

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey19 hours agoGrantRamey
Joey Aguilar

Joey Aguilar has just two games under his belt at Tennessee. He’s only been on campus since May, after transferring from UCLA and undergoing an offseason crash course of Josh Heupel’s offense on his way to being named the starting quarterback for the Vols.

But you’d never know based on his tape.

“It looks like he’s been there for a long time,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said on Tuesday. “He’s very similar to the quarterbacks they’ve had.” 

Up Next: No. 15 Tennessee vs. No. 6 Georgia, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

In wins over Syracuse and East Tennessee State, Aguilar has completed 39 of 59 passes for 535 yards and five touchdowns. He has rushed six times for 34 yards, too, including a 25-yarder against Syracuse.  

“He plays within that system,” Smart said. “He’s a really good athlete. He can take off and really hurt you with the scramble. He’s made some big plays on the scramble. 

“He throws the RPO as well. He makes good decisions, accurate, very strong arm, which their offense requires. So he fits in well.”

Aguilar completed 16 of 28 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns in his debut with the Vols, in the 45-26 win over Syracuse in Atlanta in Week 1. He had 288 yards and two touchdowns in the first half against ETSU, before getting pulled with 48-0 lead on the way to a 72-17 win. 

Now he gets his first taste of the SEC, when No. 15 Tennessee (2-0) hosts No. 6 Georgia (2-0) on Saturday (3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ABC) in the SEC opener at Neyland Stadium. 

“You can tell he understands the system,” Smart said. “He gets the ball out quickly.”

Aguilar transferred from Appalachian State to UCLA in December, after throwing for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns over the last two seasons with the Mountaineers. 

He was back in the NCAA Transfer Portal in April, after former Tennessee starter Nico Iamlaeava transferred to UCLA, and landed with the Vols in what amounted to a college football trade. 

Iamaleava completed 20 of 33 passes for 167 yards in Tennessee’s 31-17 loss at Georgia last season.

‘He’s been very, very impressive in the two games he played’

The Vols, who have lost eight straight in the series, haven’t thrown a touchdown against Smart’s defense since 2021. 

If Tennessee end the skid against Georgia, Aguilar will have to play the biggest role in it.

“He’s been very accurate,” Smart said. “He’s had some really well-thrown balls, a couple they’ve dropped in crucial times. But he makes some good throws, and really a good deep-ball passer. I think he puts air under the ball, gives the receiver an opportunity to run under it. 

“He’s made plays with his legs, which you have to do in this league at quarterback, and he’s been very, very impressive in the two games he played.”

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