Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel indicated that UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar will have to beat out Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre for the starting quarterback job.
It’s an open competition.
“We’ve got the opportunity to have a great competition at the quarterback position. I like the skillsets of the guys that are in there. I like their mindset,” Heupel said at the Big Orange Caravan stop in Memphis on April 29.
“You’ve got to learn it, earn it and go take the job. The standard is to have a guy who is ready to play at a championship level.”
Aguilar, the former Appalachian State star, transferred from UCLA. Merklinger and MacIntyre were highly touted recruits in UT’s last two signing classes.
None have been promised the starting job.
QB1 is open a year earlier than expected because Nico Iamaleava transferred from UT to UCLA. He left UT over a dispute about NIL pay, although his representatives claim it was because of problems with the Vols offense.
Heupel and the Vols are ready to move forward. There are three options at quarterback for the 2025 season, but none are proven yet at the SEC level.
Aguilar thrived at Appalachian State, but his debut at a Power Four school will come at UT. He presumably landed a lucrative NIL deal for a shot at the starting job.
Merklinger, a redshirt freshman, received a new NIL contract, a source with knowledge of the situation told Knox News. The source requested anonymity because those negotiations are private.
What Josh Heupel likes about Joey Aguilar
The Big Orange Caravan provides Heupel with his first opportunity to talk to fans and media about Aguilar.
Aguilar’s transfer from UCLA to UT was reported on April 21. But UT can now acknowledge his signing because his financial aid and scholarship papers have been processed.
“(Aguilar) has starts. He’s played at a high…
Source link : https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2025/04/29/josh-heupel-joey-aguilar-tennessee-football-jake-merklinger-quarterback-competition/83278375007/
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Publish date : 2025-04-29 23:16:00
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