For the third time in five years under Josh Heupel, Tennessee is turning to a transfer to start at quarterback. Former Appalachian State star Joey Aguilar, who spent spring practice at UCLA, beat redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger in a training camp battle for the right to lead the Vols as they look to follow up their first College Football Playoff appearance in program history.

Aguilar hit the ground running after finishing up some academics in the spring, learning the playbook and getting to know his new teammates. That work all paid off this week when the senior quarterback was named Tennessee’s starting quarterback by Josh Heupel.

Joey Aguilar is half of college football’s wildest flip-flops. The quarterback left UCLA for Tennessee after Nico Iamaleava departed the Volunteers in April for the Bruins.