KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has named a starting quarterback, and the 18th-ranked Volunteers have begun preparations for their season opener with mock game week.
Heupel met with the media Tuesday and discussed how Appalachian State transfer Joey Aguilar, who enrolled in June, earned the starting job.
“Joey, through the course of training camp, each and every day, continued to grow and take steps and understand what we’re doing and comfort level,” Heupel said. “He played well in the scrimmages, had good command and that ultimately led to the decision that we made.”
Aguilar will make his 25th start at the FBS level in his 26th FBS game. He has completed 511-of-850 passes for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns, while rushing for 452 yards on 140 attempts with five rushing scores.
In addition, Heupel discussed the return of multiple wide receivers back to full speed in practice, including senior Chris Brazzell II and redshirt sophomore Braylon Staley.
Tennessee will practice Wednesday through Saturday, treating the remainder of the week like a normal game schedule. The Volunteers kick off against Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Game at noon ET on Aug. 30 in Atlanta. Tickets are on sale at AllVols.com.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Aug. 19, 2025
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Opening statement
“We’re in the normal schedule this week. We got our guys starting school, you know. So, I like what we’ve done throughout the course of training camp. We still got some time here, before we get to kickoff, some things we got to clean up, all three phases of the game, but looking forward to this week and continuing to grow and then ultimately getting ready for Syracuse and getting ready to go play ball.”
On matching a quarterback’s skillset with the specific details of the offense…
“Ultimately, in the pass game, there are certain things they may be most confident in as you gameplan week to week, that’s part of it. But, you know, some things you put in to attack certain things you see on film, you know, you try to get them to understand the ‘why’ behind it. Offensively, they chang from year to year, you change from year to year, and it starts with quarterback and offensive line and where you can put your skill players to have success and Joey, through this week and really what he’s done through training camp learning what we’re doing offensively as we get ready for Syracuse here at the end of the week, making sure that things that are in play, he feels good about and that’s one of the things with young quarterbacks and with new quarterbacks is getting them to be transparent in those things.”
On what impressed him the most about Joey Aguilar during camp to go win the starting job…
“First of all, that entire room competed at a really high level. They competed the right way too. They pushed each other in a positive way in the meeting room. Out on the practice field, I think our team has great confidence in all of those guys. Joey, through the course of training camp, each and every day, continued to grow and take steps and understand what we’re doing and comfort level. He played well in the scrimmages, had good command and that ultimately led to the decision that we made.”
On why he believes Joey Aguilar gives Tennessee the best chance to win…
“I said it a second ago, but I have great trust in all of those guys. The strength of one position room, quarterback included, can never be just one guy. Those guys have all grown, but I think Joey coming in May, having to learn the offense throughout the late spring and summertime, getting his feet on the grass with our guys, learn how we practice, but also growing each day, continued to trend upward in his comfort and control and command of what we’re doing. His decision-making accuracy with the football, you know, our checks that he controls, you put all that together and that’s ultimately why we made the decision.”
On the state of the starting center competition…
“Yeah, (William Satterwhite and Sam Pendleton) both those guys have competed really well, grown during the course of our practices. It’s still a competition. We’re going to need both of them as we get to the fall too.”
On sustaining success with different playing styles over the years…
“I think it’s a combination, what defenses you’re seeing and how you can attack them, putting guys in the position to be successful. And then your personnel changes. That certainly starts with the quarterback, but the other 10 on the offensive side of the ball, as well.”
On young defensive tackles that will be called to action…
“Those guys have done a really good job. You look at where they were in January, when they got here, the player that they were in spring ball and the growth of what they’re doing here in training camp. Ethan Utley, explosive playing twitch hit at the line of scrimmage, doing a good job at the point of attack. Isaiah Campbell, wide hit, but strong, explosive power. Both of those guys continue to grow in a really good way.”
On what it takes to know if a young player is ready to be in the spotlight of a game…
“Well, sometimes it takes being in the spotlight and being in the game to truly understand. You’re looking for the trends of what they’re doing in the meeting room, their ability to communicate. It can be offensively, their assignment defensively, all the checks that go into it, the ability to play the next play during the course of practice, how they respond to something that didn’t go their way. Ultimately, here in training camp the way they compete on a consistent basis, with fundamentals, technique, being assignment sound and playing as hard as you can from snap to whistle.”
On the status of Chris Brazzell II, Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley…
“Mike has been with us for a long time. There were a couple days where we limited him. Chris has been with us here the last few days, and (Braylon Staley) was with us this last day as well.”
On the message to Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre after naming Joey Aguilar as the starting quarterback…
“First of all, I met with all of them at the same time. You recognize … I’ve been in that situation, on both sides of it. You understand that there’s going to be heartache and disappointment, and if it’s not that way, then you have a real problem. It was a tough decision for us. We talked about it with those guys. I think the transparency of that breeds confidence in what they’re all hearing at the same time. Through that night, there’s the pain of disappointment, right? Coming the next day, you have to find a way to be a great teammate, be the same guy that you have and continue to compete. You name a starter, but you never know when your opportunity is coming, and this message was given to those guys as we sat in the room together. It was given to the entire team, too. You have to prepare yourself for when your opportunity is going to come to take advantage of that. (Jake) has been great in the building, energy and focus. (George) has been the same way. I just want those guys to continue to grow.”
On adjusting to changes from new starters on offense…
“We’ve talked about it with our players, and I’ve talked about it with our staff too. You have to be elite in your ability to teach and help these guys grow through every phase of our offseason. Our staff has done a great job. Our young guys have been highly competitive, highly diligent in their ability to grow every single day. We’re not a finished product. Good teams continue to get better throughout the course of the year, and you have to take advantage of every day. But our young guys have prepared in a really good way, and I think they’re extremely confident right now. There’s a lot of growth that has to happen before the first kickoff, certainly, but if they continue to attack it, we’ll be ready to go play.”
On Boo Carter’s status…
“Boo has continued to grow in the things we’re asking him, to be a great teammate inside of this building every single day. The charge for him and all of us, is to continue to do that. Boo has continued to grow in what he is doing on the field, so I’m excited and pleased with a lot of things that we’ve seen from him.”
On the expected role for Amari Jefferson this season…
“Amari, coming off the hip surgery as he onboarded here, was limited throughout the course of the workout offseason, the winter part of it, and then got an opportunity in spring ball to grow on the back half of it on the football side. He did a great job during the course of the summer dramatically changing his body. He’s a guy that has made some plays out there on the practice field and in the stadium during our scrimmages as well. I expect him to continue to grow throughout the course of the fall here.”
On his experience as a quarterback impacting the decision of naming a starter…
“I think first of all, I’ve said it before, since we started our first practice, somebody has to go and take it. They went through that, got through two scrimmages and another practice with those guys competing. I think with how (Joey Aguilar) was continuing to grow inside of it, it felt like it was the right time for him, but for our football team too. Certainly, having this week, knowing that you’re going to be the guy, gives him the chance to get his feet on the ground and get ready for kickoff here in a week and a half.”
