ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit is eagerly anticipating Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar's upcoming game against Georgia, calling it a 'big test' for the young player. Aguilar has impressed in his first two games as a Volunteer, leading Tennessee to dominant victories over Syracuse (45-26) and East Tennessee State (72-17). He's thrown for a combined 535 yards and five touchdowns in those contests.
Herbstreit discussed the matchup on 'The Pat McAfee Show,' noting that both Georgia and Tennessee have flown somewhat under the radar in the early weeks of the season. He praised Tennessee's offense, highlighting the team's reloaded wide receiver corps, new running backs, and Aguilar's performance at quarterback.
"I was excited to get a look at both Georgia and Tennessee because both of these teams have been a bit off the radar these first couple of weeks," Herbstreit said. "Let me tell you, this offense of Tennessee’s… they’ve reloaded out at wide receiver and got some new backs and a new quarterback. They’re still running that Josh Heupel scheme, but this is Georgia."
Aguilar's arrival at Tennessee followed a tumultuous offseason that saw former quarterback Nico Iamaleava transfer to UCLA. Aguilar, previously at App State, stepped in and has quickly become a key part of the Volunteers' offense. Interestingly, Iamaleava has struggled at UCLA, adding another layer of intrigue to Aguilar's success at Tennessee.
Herbstreit believes the Georgia game will reveal much about Tennessee's offense and Aguilar's abilities. "This is where you really find out where you are as an offense," Herbstreit said.
Aguilar's Chance to Shine
The game against Georgia presents a significant opportunity for Aguilar to prove himself against a top-tier opponent. A strong performance would solidify his position as the Volunteers' starting quarterback and boost the team's confidence as they navigate the SEC schedule. All eyes will be on Knoxville this weekend to see if Aguilar can rise to the occasion.