Joey Aguilar led the Southeastern Conference in passing last year during his one and only season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback.
Two years ago, in Nico Iamaleava’s first full season as the starting quarterback, the Volunteers won 10 games and advanced to the College Football Playoff.
Tennessee has been successful with first-year starters at the sport’s most important position, and the Vols have no choice but to turn that trick again. They will begin preseason camp on Wednesday morning with George MacIntyre, Faizon Brandon and Ryan Staub in a competition to replace Aguilar.
“I think a lot of it is that we’re not willing to shove a square peg into a round hole,” Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle said Tuesday afternoon in a news conference. “We’ve been able to look at guys and say, ‘What does he do best, and how can we put him in position to be extremely successful?’ It’s not about what we want to do. It’s about what he can do at a high level. Obviously there are certain things they will have to be able to do well, and that starts in the recruiting process and the developmental process, not waiting until he’s the starter.
“It’s about having a plan from day one. After all that, then you say, ‘This is our guy. What does he do best? What does he struggle with? How do we tailor practice and our game plan to fit him?’ Where do we put the best pieces on offense around him to where he can be the most successful?’ You put that all together, and I think that’s why you’re seeing the success at the position.”