Former Vol Joey Aguilar Flashes Big-Time Arm Talent in Preseason Win

Former Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar went 9-of-10 for 130 yards and a 29-yard TD to Trebor Peña in the Jaguars' preseason game.

Joey Aguilar throws the ball during Tennessee Football Pro Day 2026, at University of Tennessee on March 31, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Joey Aguilar spent one season at Tennessee, but the Vol Nation faithful watching Friday night got a reminder of why he was such a dynamic playmaker in Knoxville. The former Tennessee quarterback, now fighting for a roster spot with the Jacksonville Jaguars, delivered his best professional performance yet in a preseason contest against the Carolina Panthers, completing 9 of 10 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown (Yahoo Sports).

Aguilar entered the game in the second half and never came off the field, orchestrating a Jaguars offense that had struggled to find the end zone for most of the night (Jaguars.com). The signature moment came late in the fourth quarter, when Aguilar found rookie wide receiver Trebor Peña for a 29-yard touchdown across the middle of the field, capping a night that showcased the accuracy and poise Tennessee fans came to expect during his lone campaign with the Vols.

Aug 21, 2026; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Joey Aguilar (17) looks to throw during the third quarter of the preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Aguilar-Peña Connection Continues to Grow

What made the touchdown especially notable was the chemistry on display. Aguilar and Peña, both undrafted rookies, have quickly developed into one of the more intriguing storylines of Jaguars training camp. A week earlier, the duo connected on a 43-yard gain in Aguilar's first preseason pass as a pro, and Friday's touchdown extended that rapport (Jaguars.com).

Aguilar described the connection simply after the game: he spotted Peña working open against a linebacker and delivered a tight-window throw, trusting his receiver to finish the play. Peña obliged, outrunning the Panthers' secondary for the score. For the night, Peña hauled in four catches for 72 yards and the touchdown, leading all Jaguars receivers (Jaguars.com).

"Joey Aguilar's first NFL completion is on a double move. Grant (Udinski) wasn't really letting him settle in there - it was good!

Sometimes those are better, where you don't have to think as much, you can just kind of let it rip." pic.twitter.com/mcJiDwvOiM

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 15, 2026

Tennessee Roots Still Show

For Vol fans, Aguilar's rise as a legitimate NFL roster candidate carries extra weight. During his 2025 season in Knoxville, Aguilar completed 272 of 404 passes for 3,565 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across 13 games, ranking among the SEC's top passers (Yahoo Sports). That production helped set the stage for his path to Jacksonville as a collegiate free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft.

Now, with the Jaguars trimming their roster in the coming weeks, Aguilar's back-to-back strong showings in the preseason, first the 43-yard connection against New Orleans, then Friday's efficient, mistake-free outing against Carolina, have made him impossible to ignore in the quarterback competition.

Former Tennessee football player Joey Aguilar smiles as he arrives at his Youth Football Camp at Webb School in Knoxville on July 11, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

What's Next

The Jaguars fell 34-17 in the loss to Carolina, but the result mattered less than the individual performances turned in by two of the roster's longer-shot prospects. Aguilar's ability to operate the offense cleanly, without an interception, while showing off the arm strength and anticipation that defined his Tennessee tape, gives him a real case heading into the final stretch of the preseason. Vol fans watching from afar have plenty of reasons to keep tracking his progress in Jacksonville.

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