With two weeks till No. 24 Tennessee kicks off its season towards Syracuse in Atlanta, coach Josh Heupel has but to call a beginning quarterback. If Saturday morning’s scrimmage in Neyland Stadium gave him any readability, Heupel did not let it present whereas talking with reporters afterward.
UCLA switch Joey Aguilar, who began the final two seasons at Appalachian State, and redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger are the 2 predominant candidates for the Vols’ beginning job with a current coaching camp scrimmage within the books.
“I believed each of them dealt with themselves extraordinarily effectively, (true freshman George MacIntyre) did as effectively,” Heupel stated. “I believed they’ve taken strides during the last three practices earlier than we obtained inside the stadium for at present’s scrimmage.
“We operated with crowd noise and a few of these mechanics, so there was extra on their plate. They dealt with it effectively. Been good decision-makers and have continued to develop, each in understanding what we’re doing, defensive construction and constantly being correct with the soccer.”
When requested whether or not he sees any separation between Aguilar and Merklinger, Heupel deflected and stated the group has religion in all three quarterbacks on the roster.
“This soccer believes in that group of fellows too – who they’re, how they lead and the way they compete each single day,” Heupel stated.
Whereas Heupel remained tight-lipped on which quarterback has the within monitor for the beginning job, our personal Matt Zenitz lately reported that Aguilar has the sting over Merklinger. Aguilar, who obtained a late begin with the Vols after coming over in what amounted to a commerce after Nico Iamaleava departed for UCLA, appears to be settling into Heupel’s offense.
“I believed he dealt with himself very effectively,” Heupel stated of Aguilar. “That is at present. I feel he is gotten higher from Day 1 up till at present’s scrimmage each single day. Consolation. Management. He is dealt with himself extraordinarily effectively throughout our night time walkthroughs, which is psychological focus, a psychological sweat. Due to that, he is extraordinarily snug in what we’re doing proper now.”
Aguilar involves Knoxville with loads of expertise. In 25 video games with the Mountaineers, Aguilar threw for six,760 yards and 56 touchdowns. These are encouraging numbers for Tennessee and its fan base.
Nonetheless, Aguilar additionally made a behavior out of throwing the ball to the opposite group with 24 interceptions, together with an FBS-leading 14 final 12 months. Heupel does not need Aguilar to be timid with the soccer, however he does need Aguilar to nail down a couple of key parts that might reduce down on these turnovers.
“You are gonna should make tight throws,” Heupel stated of Aguilar’s excessive interception totals. “To me, interceptions occur when you do not perceive defensive construction, your eyes aren’t in the proper spot, basically your physique’s not in the proper place and you are not correct with the soccer.
“It is all of these items which have to come back collectively for a quarterback to function effectively and maintain that soccer whereas additionally being on the proper aspect of the fence of being aggressive and permitting your self to make performs down the soccer discipline.”
Tennessee nonetheless has two weeks till its season-opener, and even the group might have some wiggle room to experiment with a pair totally different quarterbacks. The Vols are a 14.5-point favourite over Syracuse in Week 1, per BetMGM, they usually host ETSU in Week 2.
Heupel will most likely wish to have the quarterback place totally settled by the point Week 3 rolls round as a result of that is when SEC play begins with a go to from rival Georgia.
