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Editorial


Front Page - Friday, July 25, 2025

Vols place QB hopes on 2 freshmen, App State transfer




Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel at the SEC Football Media Day in Atlanta - Tennessee Athletics/UTsports.com

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel knew exactly what was coming when he stepped to the podium last week at SEC Football Media Day in Atlanta. He was prepared to be asked about UT’s quarterback situation and addressed it before taking any questions.

The quarterback position wasn’t expected to be an issue for the Vols this season, with Nico Iamaleava scheduled to return for his third season. But Iamaleava left UT during the spring over an NIL financial dispute. Iamaleava eventually landed at UCLA, which led to quarterback swap of sorts. Once Iamaleava committed to the Bruins, Joey Aguilar decided to leave UCLA before ever taking a snap and eventually landed at Tennessee.

Heupel says it’s an open competition at quarterback in the fall among Aguilar, redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre. The Vols open the season against Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta Aug. 30 (11 a.m. CDT, ABC).

“I’m really proud of the steps they’ve taken through the summer and how they’ve developed relationships and rapport with the guys around them,” Heupel says of the QB trio. “Their ability to compete in a positive way with each other in the meeting room and on the field. Their ability to have leadership traits and continue to grow in that.”

Aguilar threw for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns with 24 interceptions in two seasons at Appalachian State. In 2023, he set single-season program records with 3,757 passing yards and 33 touchdowns.

Merklinger, a former four-star recruit, has knowledge of UT’s system but little playing experience. He completed 6 of 9 passes for 48 yards as the No. 3 quarterback last season. MacIntyre is a four-star recruit out of Brentwood Academy in Nashville, and was one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2025 class.

“I think it’s really important that the guys around them see them earn it,” Heupel says. “Through the course of training camp, we don’t have a set timeline on when we want to announce somebody as our starter. Once somebody earns that opportunity, then they’ll be named that guy.”

Developing relationships quickly

Aguilar, who has yet to speak to the media, has been quickly trying to get up to speed and develop relationships with his teammates. He took the offensive linemen out to dinner during his first week in Knoxville, and has been playing video games and joining swimming pool parties with the rest of the Vols.

“Joey is one of those guys that when you meet, you immediately hit it off. Same sense of humor, similar personalities,” says UT tight end Miles Kitselman. “It’s kind of like you’ve known each other for a while. And it’s something that doesn’t really happen a whole lot.”

Kitselman says the Vols have rallied around the quarterbacks since Iamaleava surprised everyone by leaving the team right before the spring game.

“We had group texts with a couple of the guys and whenever some stuff was going around, we all came together and said, ‘Hey, man, we want somebody that wants to be here,’” Kitselman says. “I talked about it earlier, it’s next snap, next play, don’t worry about what happened before and that can translate over into life. That can translate over into that situation, to where it’s, ‘If you don’t want to be here, that’s fine. We’re going to go find somebody who does, and he’s going to come in and compete and want to be here.”

The Vols, who reached the College Football Playoff last season, were predicted to finish ninth this season in the SEC preseason poll. Three players were selected for the preseason all-SEC teams, with cornerback Jermod McCoy named to the first team and linebacker Arion Carter and defensive back Boo Carter named to the third team.

The quarterback position will remain in the spotlight through the early part of the season given all the uncertainty. But Heupel is confident the Vols can find a way to continue the success the program’s experienced under his watch no matter who’s under center.

“I’m really excited to get on the field with those guys,” he says. “We’ve found a way to win with different quarterbacks in my career on the offensive side of the ball and we’re gonna find a way to win with the guy that earns the starting spot as we go through training camp here in August.”