Tennessee boasts a quarterback who may not even be a residency of the state. That’s no matter. He seems right at home.

Joey Aguilar continues to play at a high level no matter where he checks his mail. The Antioch, Calif., native continues to impress despite the sudden surroundings he faced following his transfer from UCLA, which came as a result of former Tennessee football quarterback Nico Iamaleava leaving UT in April to become a Bruin.

Some might have had trouble with the transition of a new home, a new offense and a whole set of new teammates.

Not Aguilar.

The former Appalachian Star has taken to football in Knoxville quite well. So well, in fact, that the opposition is taking notice.

“He’s a really impressive leader, and I think that’s kind of what this place was craving, just a guy that they could relate to and that they respected and that was going to work really hard for them,” ETSU coach Will Healy said after Aguilar and the Vols laid a 72-17 thumping on the Buccaneers on Saturday in Neyland Stadium. “It seems to be what they got with him.”

Indeed. Healy didn’t say as much, but he had to have former Vol Nico Iamaleava on his mind when he shared his thoughts on Aguilar. Coaches, especially nearby coaches like those at ETSU, talk to each other, and I’m certain that Healy knew and knows that Iamaleava had leadership – or lack thereof – issues. In other words, Iamaleava wasn’t one for the Vols and likely doesn’t have that innate skill set no matter where he messes up.

There’s just something about a player that sports pajama pants on a regular basis that doesn’t scream, “Follow me!” Iamaleava was a fine individual but quiet by nature. He also let his family and representatives do the talking far too often. That did nothing for his standing among his teammates.

Iamaleava was in such a forest of poor guidance that it’s easy to feel sorry for him. However, sympathy is hard to muster when so many coaches, players and fans were depending on him.

While Aguilar has been fantastic this season, he hasn’t been able to show off his skill against elite competition. ETSU was, well, ETSU: overmatched and overwhelmed. That was obvious in the early minutes as the Vols ran up a 24-point lead in the first quarter and led at halftime 48-10.

Aguilar was certainly at the heart of the romp, completing 23-of-31 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. The statistics weren’t the only thing special about Aguilar’s home debut. His grandmother and mother were in attendance as cameras caught them soaking in the emotions of Aguilar’s performance, often with tears in their eyes.

“I had about 12, 13 family members from California come out, eight family members from out this way that came out, so we had a deep little section in the stands,” Aguilar said. “It’s awesome to have them be able to come out here, especially my grandma, you know.

“Travel, especially from California, is hard for her, so being able to go out there and just play football, and knowing that it makes them happy, representing Tennessee and them brings a lot of joy and just makes me super grateful to be out there.”

It should. Meanwhile, Tennessee football should be proud to have Aguilar this season when the quarterback situation looked to be an utter disaster in the spring when Iamaleava bolted for Los Angeles.

Tennessee fans should also be proud that Heupel and his crew were able to adapt quickly and get a quarterback in place that can not only play but play at a high level. Of course, that all sounds good after the Vols started the season 2-0, but reality is soon to creep in.

ETSU wasn’t even close to having the tools to hang with the Vols. Neither was Syracuse, which struggled to beat UCONN 27-20 on Saturday. Things are about to get much tougher with Georgia coming to town this week.

“Conference play starts next Saturday,” Heupel said. “We’re going to try to be the best football team on the field that Saturday. We need to be at our best. We certainly know who they are as a program and what they are as a football team. It’ll take us being at our best, and we’re going to need our fans to be at their best too next Saturday.”