No Nico? No problem for Tennessee football.
The Vols offense functioned well enough with UCLA transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar running the show, and their defense overcame injuries in a 45-26 victory over Syracuse at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Aug. 30.
Aguilar looked comfortable right away in coach Josh Heupel’s up-tempo, spread offense. In fact, he sometimes looked like a quarterback upgrade over former Tennessee starter Nico Iamaleava, who transferred to UCLA after spring practice.
Never mind that Aguilar had to take a cram course in UT’s offense this summer. He seemed at ease and in control while making plays running and passing as the Vols jumped out to a 24-7 lead early in the second quarter.
His 25-yard, first-quarter run led to Tennessee’s first touchdown drive, but the play that will foster a surge of optimism among the fan base occurred in the second quarter.
Aguilar, who started two seasons for Appalachian State, delivered a perfectly thrown deep pass to slot receiver Braylon Staley for a 73-yard touchdown. Iamaleava too often misfired on similar throws last season.
Aguilar also was impressive on his second touchdown pass. He exited the pass pocket, ran to his left and threw a strike to running back Star Thomas in the end zone.
He was hardly perfect. Some of his throws sailed high in the early going, and he fumbled a handoff exchange that killed a first-quarter scoring drive. But the former two-year Sun Belt Conference starter at Appalachian State flashed enough talent and poise to show he won’t be overwhelmed by a higher level of competition.
His play won’t go unnoticed nationally. He’s a feel-good story for college football. And ABC was telling that story – barely noticed by recruiters, out of football for two years, a comeback that began at an obscure junior college – before Aguilar took his first Tennessee snap.
The Vols offense wasn’t just the Joey Show. Their revamped offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage despite an injury to freshman starter David Sanders at tackle. And running back DeSean Bishop picked up where SEC Offensive Player of the Year Dylan Sampson left off by gaining 67 of UT’s 157 first-half rushing yards on only seven carries. Thomas and Peyton Lewis also carved out yardage against an overmatched Syracuse defensive front.
UT again exhibited depth on defense while losing three linemen to injury in the first half. As expected, defensive coordinator Tim Banks applied plenty of pressure to first-time starting quarterback Steve Angeli, whose lack of mobility was a problem. That pressure paid off with four first-half sacks, and transfer cornerback Colton Hood converted an Angeli fumble into a 22-yard touchdown return.
The victory extended Heupel’s record to 5-0 in Tennessee openers. But this opener wasn’t as lopsided. In their first four openers under Heupel, the Vols outscored their opponents 209-32.
Syracuse had something to do with that.
Credit coach Fran Brown’s offense with maintaining its composure despite UT’s defensive pressure. The Orange, which suffered heavy attrition from last-season’s high scoring team, cut Tennessee’s lead to 12 points, 38-26, early in the fourth quarter when power-running back Yasin Willis scored his third touchdown.
You know ETSU won’t be as competitive against the Vols in the home opener on Sept. 6. You also know Georgia will provide a better indicator of UT’s strengths and weaknesses in two weeks.
But the Vols at least answered questions about an offense that was breaking in a new quarterback, had a couple of unproven starting wide receivers, and lost center Cooper Mays, who anchored their previous offensive line.
Tennessee again proved it can sustain a potent running attack under Heupel. Its receiving corps should be better than last season.
And its quarterback might be better, too.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com
