The first time Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar has spoken in public since leaving UCLA for Tennessee, he says, “It’s all rat poison.”

The late July sun beat down on the Neyland Stadium practice fields as Joey Aguilar finally broke his silence. Until now, the new Tennessee quarterback had stayed out of the media glare, letting speculation swirl in his absence. After his surprising transfer from UCLA in the spring, the college football world had been left to fill in the blanks, conjuring stories and spinning narratives in his silence. But on this sweltering afternoon, the junior quarterback from Northern California finally addressed the public. “It’s all rat poison,” Aguilar said calmly, his eyes shielded by reflective sunglasses, his tone even and unshaken.

For Aguilar, the term “rat poison” — popularized by Nick Saban to describe media hype and external expectations — wasn’t just a soundbite. It was a lifeline, a survival mechanism in the whirlwind of sudden celebrity. Ever since he entered the transfer portal following a frustrating season at UCLA, the attention hadn’t stopped. The Bruins fanbase questioned his loyalty; pundits questioned his upside. Tennessee fans, desperate for a spark after a lukewarm 2024 campaign, viewed him as both savior and mystery.

His decision to leave Westwood came after a year marred by injuries and inconsistency, both his own and the team’s. What began with high hopes — Aguilar as the dual-threat weapon in Chip Kelly’s up-tempo attack — ended with him sidelined by a shoulder injury, watching from the sideline as the Bruins sputtered to a 7–5 finish. Rumors swirled about locker room chemistry, his relationship with the staff, even his commitment to the playbook. Aguilar has never addressed them — until now.

“People can say what they want,” he said, adjusting his Vols cap backward. “They don’t know what goes on in the building. They don’t see what we deal with day to day. I had a lot of respect for Coach Kelly, but at the end of the day, it wasn’t the right fit for me. That’s not hate. That’s reality.”

Tennessee, meanwhile, had its own problems. After the high of the Hendon Hooker era, followed by a short, uneven stint from Joe Milton and a promising-but-green season from freshman Nico Iamaleava, the Vols found themselves caught between rebuilding and contending. When Aguilar entered the portal in December, Tennessee moved quickly. Sources close to the program say head coach Josh Heupel saw Aguilar as a natural fit: experienced, mobile, smart, and resilient. “He’s the kind of quarterback who’s seen some things,” Heupel said during spring camp. “He’s not easily rattled. And he can sling it.”

That’s the part of Aguilar’s game that has coaches quietly excited — his arm talent. Though he wasn’t a blue-chip recruit out of Freedom High School in Oakley, California, his path through the junior college ranks, then Appalachian State, and then UCLA, turned him into a player who knows how to adapt. His 2022 season at App State — 3,400 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, only 9 picks — earned him national attention and eventually a shot at the Power Five level. The UCLA chapter didn’t go as planned, but it sharpened his edge. “I learned who I was over there,” Aguilar said. “I learned what I can tolerate. And I learned I’m not here to be a brand. I’m here to win football games.”

The mention of “brand” might seem pointed, and perhaps it is. Aguilar entered a college football culture more commercialized than ever, with NIL money, social media influence, and transfer carousel chatter dominating the off-field landscape. At 22, he’s not naive to the business side of the game. But it’s clear he resents the distractions. “People think because you post a video or drop a merch line, you’re a QB1,” he said, dryly. “That’s cool. But I’m still about reps, not reels.”

Since arriving in Knoxville, Aguilar has kept a low profile, focusing on mastering Heupel’s offense, building chemistry with his new receivers, and earning trust in the locker room. Reports from inside the program suggest he’s already become a vocal leader. Wideout Bru McCoy, returning for a fifth year, said Aguilar’s presence has been a stabilizing force. “He doesn’t say much, but when he does, guys listen,” McCoy said. “He’s been in pressure spots. He brings that veteran calm.”

That poise is something Tennessee has sorely needed. The 2024 season ended with a 7–6 record, a Music City Bowl win barely masking the program’s inconsistencies. Heupel, now in his fifth season, knows expectations are high. He also knows Aguilar is probably his last chance to right the ship before questions start swirling about his own future in Knoxville. “Joey’s a competitor,” Heupel said after a June 7-on-7 scrimmage. “He takes command of the huddle. He holds himself and others accountable. He’s been a grown man since day one.”

Aguilar shrugs off the compliments. He’s not interested in praise, especially not now. “I’ve been the underdog for so long, I’m used to people doubting me,” he said. “I don’t need anyone to believe in me but the guys in that locker room. Everyone else? It’s noise.”

His offseason training regimen reflects that focus. Aguilar has been working with a private quarterback coach three mornings a week, reviewing film late into the night, and even organizing unsanctioned weekend workouts with the team’s receivers. “He’ll text us at 10 p.m. like, ‘Let’s run routes at the stadium at sunrise,’” said sophomore receiver Ethan Davis. “You can’t fake that kind of drive.”

Still, the path ahead won’t be easy. Tennessee opens the 2025 season with a neutral-site clash against Oklahoma State, followed by an early SEC gauntlet that includes road games at Georgia and Florida. Aguilar knows the margin for error is thin. “This league is no joke,” he said. “You can’t take plays off. You can’t take days off. Every week is war.”

Asked if he feels pressure to be the missing piece, Aguilar took a breath before answering. “No more than I put on myself,” he said. “This isn’t about hype. It’s about execution. I came here to compete, period. I’ve been through worse than a little pressure.”

Indeed, Aguilar’s journey has been anything but conventional. Few quarterbacks can say they’ve played at a junior college, a Sun Belt contender, a Pac-12 program, and now an SEC powerhouse. It’s a path forged not through privilege but persistence. “I didn’t have four-star offers coming out,” he said. “I didn’t have handlers or agents or hype. I just kept showing up, putting in work.”

For Heupel, that’s what makes Aguilar so valuable. “Joey’s got that edge,” he said. “He doesn’t need to be motivated. He’s been hungry his whole life.”

Aguilar’s family, who still live in California, have made plans to attend every home game this fall. His mother, a schoolteacher, used to wake up at 4 a.m. to drive him to training sessions before class. “She taught me how to grind,” Aguilar said. “She never let me feel sorry for myself. Not once.”

Now, he channels that energy into every rep, every throw, every snap. Though he’s only been in Knoxville for a few months, he already carries himself like a player who’s been here for years. He doesn’t flinch when asked about expectations. He doesn’t waver when reminded of Tennessee’s recent quarterback carousel. “I respect the guys who came before me,” he said. “But I’m not here to be them. I’m here to be me. And I’m here to win.”

As the interview wrapped, Aguilar lingered for a few moments, watching the younger players gather for conditioning drills. He didn’t speak much more, just nodded, thanked the reporter, and walked off slowly toward the practice field, helmet under arm. The noise will continue. The pressure will mount. The doubters will chirp. But for Joey Aguilar, it’s all just rat poison.

And he’s not taking the bait.