Josh Heupel told Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre that they’d be backup quarterbacks in the same breath he revealed Joey Aguilar would start.

Tennessee's starters in 2023 and 2024 -- Joe Milton and Iamaleava, respectively -- were both rather thin on playing time when they took the offense's reins. There's some natural growing pains with that level of inexperience. Aguilar shouldn't have that problem.

Aguilar started his career being named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year in 2023. He ended that season with MVP honors of the Cure Bowl, where he threw for 211 yards and rushed for a touchdown in a win over Miami (OH). In 2024, he was an All-Sun Belt honorable mention after starting 11 games.