While he may have initially been disappointed that another year of eligibility was not granted, Joey Aguilar did not sound like someone stuck on what could have been at the NFL Combine. In Indianapolis, he sounded locked in, calm and fully ready to embrace what comes next.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can put my all focus into that,\u201d Aguilar said<\/a> when asked about shifting his attention completely toward the NFL.<\/p>\n What followed was the bigger headline. Aguilar revealed he played last season with a benign tumor in his shoulder and bicep, a condition that created tightness, weakness and a burning sensation that flared up throughout the year.<\/p>\n \u201cSome games are better than others,\u201d he admitted. \u201cDefinitely my arm was weaker going into a lot of games last year.\u201d<\/p>\n He discovered the issue early in the season. Sitting out never crossed his mind.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019ve got one time to play at Tennessee, there\u2019s no backing down.\u201d<\/p>\n Aguilar described how the tumor pulled on his bicep and pec, making his arm feel tight and aggravated with the volume of throws required during games and practice. Rest and rehab became part of his weekly rhythm, even as he continued leading the offense.<\/p>\n The toughness shows up on film. Aguilar pointed to throws against Arkansas and Alabama where he absorbed contact and delivered downfield.<\/p>\n \u201cMy willingness to sit in the pocket and throw the ball while there\u2019s pressure on my face and taking a hit,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen things break down, find my guy open and go ahead and throw the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n He believes Tennessee\u2019s offensive adjustments this season helped prepare him for the next level.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you go back and watch film, we went a lot more pro style offense with progression reads and things like that,\u201d Aguilar said. \u201cI\u2019m prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n More:\u00a0Dallas Cowboys predicted to trade up for Ohio State star in 2026 NFL Draft<\/a><\/p>\n His journey from junior college to App State, a brief stop at UCLA and then Tennessee required him to learn multiple playbooks in limited timeframes.<\/p>\n \u201cJust shows how well I can learn and how well I take that preparation seriously,\u201d he said. \u201cWherever I go, I would dedicate, put my nose down and get that playbook down as best as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n Faith remains central to his perspective. Aguilar referenced Proverbs about trusting the Lord with all your heart and leaning not on your own understanding, a verse he said has guided him through uncertainty and adversity.<\/p>\n