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Quarterback's Remarkable Journey: From Firefighter Dream to SEC Starter
20 Aug
Summary
- Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar considered quitting football to become a firefighter in 2020
- Aguilar transferred to multiple colleges before earning the starting job at UT in 2025
- Aguilar's patience and persistence paid off as he prepares to lead the No. 18 Vols
Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar's path to becoming the Vols' starting quarterback in 2025 is a testament to his perseverance. Just a few years ago, Aguilar was considering giving up on his college football dreams and instead pursuing a career as a firefighter.
In 2020, Aguilar's junior college season was canceled due to COVID-19, and he had no Division I scholarship offers. At that point, he thought it was time to explore a new career path. However, after some encouragement from those around him, Aguilar decided to stick with football and continue his journey.
Aguilar went on to play for two different junior colleges and then spent two seasons at Appalachian State, where he had a standout 2023 campaign. He then transferred to UCLA in January 2025 before ultimately landing at Tennessee after the Vols' 2024 starter, Nico Iamaleava, left the program.
Now, Aguilar is set to lead the No. 18 Volunteers in their 2025 season opener against Syracuse on August 30th. It's a remarkable turnaround for a player who once thought his football career was over. Aguilar's perseverance and patience have paid off, and he is now poised to make the most of his opportunity as Tennessee's starting quarterback.
