On Tuesday, he earned a preseason honor by being selected to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award preseason watchlist ahead of the 2025 season. He was one of 58 quarterbacks to get selected to the preseason watchlist The award is presented to the top senior or upperclassman quarterback who is on track to graduate with his class.

The Tennessee Vols officially named UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar as the program's starting quarterback earlier this week. Aguilar beat out redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre for the job.

No. 24 Tennessee has decided on its new starting quarterback. Joey Aguilar, who transferred in from UCLA following the departure of Nico Iamaleava, will lead the offense onto the field when the Vols open their season against Syracuse in Atlanta on Aug. 30, the program announced.