Aguilar’s mindset has been molded by his experiences throughout his college football career. In 2023 at Appalachian State, he went from backup to record-setting starter and led the Mountaineers to the Sun Belt Championship Game and a bowl victory for a nine-win season. He set the program’s single-season records for passing yards (3,757), passing touchdowns (33), total offense (4,002), completions (293) and attempts (460).
But in 2024, his passer rating dropped nearly 20 points, from 151.62 (26th in the FBS) to 132.86 (76th), and his completion percentage and yards per attempt decreased, too. He threw 10 fewer touchdowns and four more interceptions. Appalachian State struggled to a 5-6 record.
“Wasn’t the best,” Aguilar said. “I definitely put up a better season in ‘23. Tried to do a little too much, I would say, in ‘24, but, I mean, the past is the past. All you can do is learn from it and get better.”
He continued: “It just showed me like life can go (up) and life can go (down). In ‘23, it went here. In ‘24, it went here. It just showed me I’ve got to just stay neutral in everything, in football and in just life. I can’t get too excited on one thing and too down on another, so coming here, just like I said, just got to put my nose down and work, not worry about last season. Last season’s last season. We’re just focused on the people in this building and the team and go succeed for this season.”