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The Tennessee Volunteers and Joey Aguilar have become a duo that few expected to work—but that’s exactly what has happened. Aguilar has come in and impressed just about everyone. Some analysts are even walking back their earlier takes, admitting they misjudged the situation.
“UCLA makes the worst trade in the history of trades and Tennessee lands this guy (Aguilar),” Urban Meyer said this week on The Triple Option. “I don’t know this guy (Aguilar), but he must be a monster. And I was the first guy, when Nico left, I said, D-U-N, done. It’s over in Knoxville. How do you lose a quarterback with that talent? I was dead wrong. Dead wrong. That kid played his — I know they lost, but he played his ass off, man.”
Since arriving in Knoxville, Aguilar has proven to be more than just a playmaker—he’s also shown himself to be a natural leader.
“The first week he was here with all our guys, he took the offensive linemen out to dinner,” Josh Heupel said. “Those are little steps in developing relationships where you can eventually lead them. When you're coming in, how you present yourself every single day inside and outside the building is going to be how players perceive you.”
This Saturday, Aguilar will have one of his biggest fans in the stands—Grayson, a nine-year-old who never missed a game while Aguilar was at Appalachian State. His father shared a heartwarming detail that says everything about who Joey is.
“Grayson didn’t have to go find Joey; Joey knew who Grayson was and would go try and find him,” Grayson’s dad said.
"Grayson didn’t have to go find Joey; Joey knew who Grayson was and would go try and find him."
Since his App State days, Joey Aguilar has inspired 9-year-old Grayson Hicks like no other.
With Aguilar now playing for the #Vols, Grayson and his family are traveling to Neyland to… pic.twitter.com/iMEPumbyHh
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The two attended the same church, and every weekend Aguilar made it a point to find Grayson. That kind of selflessness speaks volumes.
Aguilar is a leader on the field, but perhaps even more importantly, he’s remained the same grounded, caring person off the field. Stories like this are why he deserves to be one of the most respected and well-liked players in college football. The moment is never too big for him—he simply makes the most of every opportunity. And now, Grayson has a lifelong friend.
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