The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is buzzing with excitement as quarterback situations evolve across key teams heading into the 2025 season. At the SEC media days held in Atlanta on Wednesday, attention focused on the ongoing competitions in Tennessee, Florida, and Mississippi State, as each program seeks to establish its leadership on the field.
Tennessee’s Three-Way Quarterback Battle
The Tennessee Volunteers are in the midst of a significant quarterback battle, featuring three contenders, including transfer Joey Aguilar from Appalachian State. The team is looking to replace former five-star recruit Nico Iamaleava, who started all 13 games last season and led the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff before transferring to UCLA.
Head Coach Josh Heupel, a former National Championship-winning quarterback, confirmed that the competition remains open as the team prepares for preseason camp. “We’ve found a way to win with a lot of different quarterbacks throughout my career,” Heupel stated. “And we’re going to find a way to win with the guy that earns a starting spot as we go through training camp here in August.”
Aguilar, who initially transferred to UCLA in December, returned to the portal and joined Tennessee following Iamaleava’s departure. In the 2024 season, he started 11 games for the Mountaineers, amassing 3,002 yards and throwing 23 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. In addition to Aguilar, Jake Merklinger, who appeared in two games last season while redshirting, and incoming true freshman George MacIntyre are also vying for the position.
Florida’s Optimism with Lagway and Slaughter
Meanwhile, the Florida Gators are looking to build on last season’s momentum, thanks in part to quarterback DJ Lagway. After taking over as the starter midway through 2024, Lagway led the team to a 6-1 record, tying for the most wins by a true freshman quarterback in the program’s history. Coach Billy Napier, now entering his fourth season, highlighted the importance of veteran presence with center Jake Slaughter, who has played in 38 consecutive games and was the only 2024 AP All-America selection present at media days.
“He was voted team captain by his teammates last year, and he very much lives it out,” Napier said of Slaughter. “He’s a guy that sets the tone every day.” Lagway’s performance helped Florida rebound from a rocky 4-5 start to finish the season strong, including upsets against then-No. 22 LSU and No. 9 Ole Miss.
“He treats everything like it’s the last thing he’s ever going to do,” Slaughter remarked about Lagway. “But then on game day, he’s got a different type of swag to him. He’s getting everybody fired up.”
Mississippi State Seeks Recovery with Shapen
Over in Starkville, Mississippi State faces the challenge of recovering from a winless conference season. Coach Jeff Lebby is optimistic as quarterback Blake Shapen returns from a shoulder injury that cut his 2024 season short. The former Baylor transfer fractured his right scapula in week four, prompting a string of losses for the Bulldogs, who ended the season with a 2-10 overall record.
“I am 100% healthy,” Shapen said, expressing his eagerness to contribute this season. “Obviously, it was tough not playing last year, but I’m back now and I feel better than ever.” In a limited role last year, Shapen threw for 974 yards, with eight touchdowns and only one interception, providing some hope for improvement in 2025.
“Inside our walls right now, we have great belief,” Lebby noted. “Our guys are incredibly intent on getting better and changing the outcome this fall.”
The SEC media days highlighted the competitive landscape of college football, showcasing how each program is preparing for the upcoming season. As teams gear up for training camps, the quarterback battles in Tennessee, Florida, and Mississippi State will undoubtedly be pivotal in shaping the outcomes of their respective seasons.
