DeShaun Foster admits Joey Aguilar is getting first team reps, leaving UCLA QB competition open

The UCLA Bruins are heading into spring with a quarterback competition. Early on, though, transfer Joey Aguilar has already made himself known within the quarterback room and to head coach DeShaun Foster.

Foster recently shared that, for the time being, Aguilar is getting first-team reps. That’s after he’s stood out since he’s gotten to UCLA as a transfer quarterback. Combined with his experience, and Foster sees a lot of reasons to be excited.

“Experienced quarterback,” Foster said. “Has played a lot of football. Just excited to see him take command of the team and just let’s go, let’s take it on. I think that’ll happen once we start getting out here on the field. He was doing a good job when we were doing our walkthroughs and the player-led stuff. You know, now it’s time to really play ball.”

Aguilar was a three-star recruit in the Class of 2019, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He began his career at the JUCO ranks before initially transferring to Appalachian State. He spent two seasons there, playing in 25 games. He has a career completion percentage of 60.1 percent and has thrown for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns to 24 interceptions. He also rushed for 452 yards and five touchdowns.

“I mean, he’s gonna go out there first,” Foster said. “But it’s always a competition. It’s spring ball. So, everybody will get an opportunity to compete, but like you said he does have the most experience in the room.”

Last season, UCLA played two different quarterbacks. Ethan Garbers played in 11 games for the Bruins and Justyn Martin appeared in three games. However, Martin now plays for the Maryland Terrapins, transferring in the offseason, and Garbers has now exhausted his eligibility after four years at UCLA and one with the Washington Huskies.

As a team, the Bruins ranked 47th nationally in passing offense in 2024. That was on the back of 242.2 passing yards per game. UCLA was also 84th in passing touchdowns with 17 for the season.

Along with adding Aguilar from the Transfer Portal, Foster also brought in Robert McDaniel and Colton Gumino in the Class of 2025. They’re both three-star recruits, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, with McDaniel ranking as the 31st quarterback in that recruiting cycle and Gumino being the 80th.

There is still time remaining in the offseason and there is also time for things to change within the UCLA quarterback room. However, Foster has plenty of reasons to be confident with Aguilar leading the offense.