There were a number of times during the 2024 season where the Tennessee Vols’ passing game simply couldn’t get going, particularly with the deep ball down the field. That was for a number of reasons. Included among them was former QB Nico Iamaleava’s tendency to hold onto the ball instead of letting it loose to an open receiver deep down the field, particularly during SEC play.
On3 Sports’ J.D. Pickell sees a different potential result in 2025 with App State/UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar. Pickell noted recently that Aguilar’s “let it rip” personality could help ignite a deep passing attack that appeared to lack confidence at times in 2024. Aguilar indeed has shown that willingness to take risks and push the ball down the field. A gunslinger mentality. And naturally that has yielded both good and bad results for the ex-Mountaineer, which is typical for types of players who play by the mantra of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians: no risk it, no biscuit.
Aguilar threw for 33 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in 2023, but that ratio switched to 23/14 in 2024, with Aguilar’s 14 interceptions being the most in all of FBS. The latter is something that he’ll have to cut down on this fall.Fortunately, Josh Heupel’s offense has brought the best out of his quarterbacks in that regard during his tenure, as his starting quarterbacks have thrown no more than 5 interceptions (2023, 2024) in a single season.
If Heupel can get that big play ability out of Aguilar and cut down on the interceptions, then perhaps Tennessee fans will be cheering on more big plays in the passing game in 2025.
