Joey Aguilar, a 24-year-old Antioch native and former Freedom High star, has been named Tennessee's starting quarterback after transferring from UCLA. Aguilar previously played two seasons at Diablo Valley Community College when the 2020 JUCO season was shut down and then started 25 games at Appalachian State in 2023–24. He passed for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns at Appalachian State and rushed for 452 yards with five touchdowns. Aguilar arrived on Tennessee's Knoxville campus in May, stands 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, and has Proverbs 3:5-6 tattooed on his ribs. He will make his 25th career start on Aug. 30.
Antioch native Joey Aguilar is half of college football's wildest flip-flops. When Nico Iamaleava departed Tennessee in April for UCLA, the quarterback left the Bruins to join the Volunteers. Now Aguilar has Iamaleava's old starting job. Coming out here and being the starting quarterback for this program is nothing but excitement, and that's all I can say, Aguilar said Wednesday. I'm just super excited.
Adapting to changing circumstances is nothing new for the 24-year-old quarterback who once starred for Freedom High of Oakley. When the coronavirus pandemic shut down junior college football in 2020, Aguilar was preparing to start on his goal to be a firefighter. He was lured back to football where he played two seasons at Diablo Valley Community College in Pleasant Hill. He then played 25 games at Appalachian State in 2023 and 2024.
So Aguilar, who has the Bible verse Proverbs 3:5-6 tattooed on his ribs, gambled on moving again. Even Aguilar can't quite believe how everything has turned out. If you would tell me that in 2021, 2022, I probably would not believe it, Aguilar said. I was in JUCO at that time, looking at players at this level, like, Dang, that's crazy. I wish I was there.' And here I am. I just got to thank Jesus for giving me the opportunity to be here.
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