Joey Aguilar’s Final Act? Tennessee QB Embraces the Moment Ahead of Music City Bowl
NASHVILLE - With just days left in what may be his final chapter in college football, Joey Aguilar isn’t caught up in the what-ifs or what’s next. After Tennessee wrapped up its first on-site practice for the Music City Bowl at Montgomery Bell Academy, the veteran quarterback met with reporters, calm and composed, reflecting on the road that brought him here and the opportunity still in front of him.
Aguilar’s future beyond Tuesday’s matchup against Illinois remains uncertain, tied to an ongoing legal situation that has kept his 2026 plans in limbo. But the present?
That’s clear. And for now, Aguilar is soaking in every moment.
“I’m excited to go out there and play one more time for this team,” he said. “I’m super grateful for the coaches, community and players for accepting me.”
It’s been a whirlwind year for both Aguilar and Tennessee. After an unexpected spring split with Nico Iamaleava, the Vols needed a quarterback.
Aguilar, a seasoned journeyman with stops at junior college, Appalachian State, and briefly UCLA, stepped in and delivered. He didn’t just hold the line-he led the SEC in passing yards, racking up 3,444 and accounting for 27 total touchdowns.
His arrival gave Tennessee a lifeline. And in return, the Vols gave Aguilar a platform to showcase his game on the biggest stage he’s ever known.
But with the transfer portal set to open just three days after the bowl game, Tennessee is already looking ahead. Head coach Josh Heupel and his staff can’t afford to wait out the legal process surrounding Aguilar’s eligibility.
They need a quarterback ready to lead an offense that could return eight of its ten starters. The portal offers a quicker solution than relying on young arms like George MacIntyre or Faizon Brandon.
Still, both Aguilar and the Vols know there’s value in finishing strong-even if it’s not the postseason stage they had hoped for.
Heupel acknowledged the disappointment of a 2025 season that fell short of expectations. Tennessee dropped three home games, went winless against ranked opponents, and suffered a deflating loss to Vanderbilt just a week after a signature win at Florida. The Music City Bowl wasn’t the goal-but it’s what’s left.
And for Aguilar, it still means something.
“Just blessed and grateful,” he said. “I just came in in a short amount of time, and I had to grind and get the playbook down and get the connections down with the teammates and my coaches. A lot of little details like that mean a little more.”
It’s hard not to appreciate the arc of Aguilar’s story. Not long ago, he was preparing to become a firefighter.
Now, he’s closing in on 10,000 career passing yards and has 80 touchdown passes to his name at the FBS level. His journey-from junior college to the Sun Belt to the SEC-has been anything but conventional.
And yet, he stepped into one of the most pressure-packed roles in college football and made it work.
Heupel summed it up earlier this month: “Couldn’t be more thankful for who he has been from the moment that he stepped foot here. That’s being a teammate and caring about the guys around him, the culture inside of the locker room.
Then certainly the player-his ability in a really short amount of time to grasp what we’re doing offensively, go play and execute at a really high level. A big part of our offensive and team success this year.
Couldn’t have had somebody come in in May and do it any better.”
Aguilar will try to do it one more time-one more game, one more shot to leave a lasting impression.
Weather-wise, the forecast calls for a cold one in Nashville, with temperatures expected in the mid-30s on Tuesday. That might favor Illinois, but Aguilar isn’t fazed. He’s a California native, sure, but he’s logged plenty of cold-weather reps from his time at Appalachian State.
“I don’t mind it. It’s fun,” he said with a grin.
“App State, last couple games, we’re practicing in 15-, 10-degree weather out there in the snow, and we’re trying to be tough out there with no long sleeves on, nothing on, freezing. But as you get going, it’s fun, everybody’s out there enjoying it.”
Tennessee’s offense should be in decent shape despite some attrition. Star receiver Chris Brazzell II is out, but the Vols could get a boost with the return of tight end Miles Kitselman, who missed the final two regular-season games after getting banged up against New Mexico State. Aguilar emphasized Kitselman’s importance, calling him a key contributor in both the pass and run game.
“He’s a big aspect of our offense,” Aguilar said. “So to have him out there is super exciting-just one more target for me.”
Aguilar will still have plenty of weapons at his disposal. Freshman wideouts Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley, along with tight end Ethan Davis, give him a trio of dynamic options.
The offensive line, which held up well for most of the season, remains mostly intact, though starting guard Wendell Moe Jr. is questionable after suffering an injury against Vanderbilt. And with top rusher DeSean Bishop in the backfield, Tennessee has the tools to keep the offense balanced.
In other words, the pieces are there for Aguilar to cap off this season-and potentially his college career-with a win.
“(It’s) very (comforting),” Aguilar said of the offensive continuity. “But at the same time, at practice a lot of guys rotate within groups.
Live reps is a little different than practice reps, but I’ve been out there with all types of players out there, so it’s very comfortable. We’re out there playing one last game together and got one more game to prove.”
One more game. One more chance. Whether it’s the final act or just another step in a winding journey, Joey Aguilar is ready to make it count.