'Tennessee would like to get back to that' - Insider details how the Vols' offense could have a different feel with Joey Aguilar

The Tennessee Vols' offense over the last two seasons has looked a bit different than it did during Josh Heupel's first two seasons leading the program.

In 2021 and 2022, with Hendon Hooker at quarterback, the Vols' offense operated at warp speed. Tennessee rarely slowed things down during those two seasons, electing instead to utilize tempo as often as possible.

The last two seasons, Tennessee's offense hasn't moved nearly as fast. Some of that is due to some rule changes that impact how quickly a team can snap the ball in certain situations.

Mostly, though, the Vols' slower tempo over the last two seasons has been due to quarterback play. Joe Milton in 2023 and Nico Iamaleava in 2024 just weren't able to operate the offense as quickly or as efficiently as Hooker.

With UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar set to start at quarterback, the Vols are hoping to run more tempo in 2025.

"I do think they want to go fast," said VolQuest's Brent Hubbs on Friday during an appearance on 104.5 The Zone's Ramon and Will. "And I think they are trying to go back to the pacing that Tennessee fans have become more accustomed to seeing under Josh Heupel. Now, there's some limitations on that, rules wise. When someone goes out of bounds on your sideline, they want to hold the ball up and all these types of things. So there's still some some things you have to work around. But you can go faster, I think, than Tennessee has gone the last two seasons. So Tennessee would like to get back to that.

"As for what separated Joey Aguilar for the job, it was his growth from scrimmage one to scrimmage two in this offense. He was not terrible in scrimmage one, but he did not separate himself. I think in scrimmage two, he did [separate himself] in the way he operated the offense, the pace that he played with, the pace that he got the offense going at. The comfort level he had, and just the operation of getting the call, getting to the line, getting going, not having missed calls and different things like that. And then executing some plays vertically down the field. I think when they walked out of that scrimmage last Friday, a week ago today, everybody kind of looked at everybody and went, 'Yeah, that's the guy.'"

Tennessee's offense has been as its best when it operates at warp speed. If Aguilar can run the offense with pace and rhythm, it could help Tennessee get back to leading the SEC in scoring.