Former University of Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar is giving back to the community that cheered him on, returning to Knoxville to host a youth football camp for young players across the area.

Aguilar, who suited up for the Vols before moving on to professional football, made the trip back to his college home specifically to invest in the next generation of East Tennessee athletes. The camp gave young participants a chance to learn from a quarterback who once stood under center at Neyland Stadium — an experience that carries real meaning for kids who grow up dreaming of wearing the orange and white.

Events like this one reflect a tradition of former collegiate and professional athletes returning to the places that shaped them, using their platform to inspire youth and strengthen community ties. For the young campers in attendance, an afternoon learning football fundamentals from a former Vols signal-caller is the kind of memory that can fuel a love of the game for years to come.

Knoxville has long been a city where the University of Tennessee and the broader community are deeply intertwined, and Aguilar’s homecoming camp is a fitting example of that bond in action. Whether the campers go on to play high school ball, college football, or simply carry a lifelong appreciation for the sport, the opportunity to learn from someone who has lived the journey is invaluable.

It’s a feel-good story that highlights what makes Knoxville special — a place where athletes remember where they came from and come back to lift others up along the way.

Sources: WKRN News 2