Josh Heupel has a new starting quarterback for his 24th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers, with Joey Aguilar coming through the transfer portal to earn the job for the season opener Aug. 30 against Syracuse in Atlanta.
“He’s extremely comfortable in what we’re doing right now,” Heupel said of Aguilar.
Quarterback had been the biggest question for the Vols because Nico Iamaleava stunningly left just before the spring game. Iamaleava landed at UCLA, where Aguilar changed his mind and chose Tennessee after throwing for 3,003 yards with 23 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions last season at Appalachian State.
He beat out Jake Merklinger, who played in two games for the Vols last season, and freshman George MacIntyre.
Quarterback is just one of many positions on offense that will feature a new starter from 2024, when Tennessee went 10-3. The Vols reached the College Football Playoff before losing in the first round to eventual national champion Ohio State.
Replacing Sampson
Tennessee also has a deep group to help replace Dylan Sampson, the SEC Offensive Player of the Year who left for the NFL. He keyed the SEC’s best rushing offense and ninth nationally by running for a school-record 1,491 yards.
DeSean Bishop earned a scholarship after running for 455 yards last season, and the Vols also have Star Thomas, who transferred from Duke. He has experience with 40 career games at Duke and New Mexico State and 2,044 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.
New offensive line
Left tackle Lance Heard is the only returning starter with David Sanders Jr., a five-star recruit, on track to start at right tackle. Tennessee has to find a new center with Cooper Mays gone after holding that spot for Heupel’s first four seasons.
Heupel also added experience through the transfer portal Sam…
Source link : https://www.nbcsports.com/college-football/news/no-24-tennessee-trying-to-build-off-cfp-berth-with-new-qb-in-josh-heupels-5th-season
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Publish date : 2025-08-19 19:15:00
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