Gaston Moore – Syndication Server

Gaston Moore, Jake Merklinger ‘did a great job operating the offense’ in scrimmage

Josh Heupel discusses how quarterbacks Gaston Moore and Jake Merklinger did a great job operating the Vols’ offense in Friday’s scrimmage.

Redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava enters his second season at Tennessee and his first as the Vols’ starting quarterback in 2024.

The Vols scrimmaged for the first time in fall camp on Friday at Neyland Stadium. Following the scrimmage, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed how his backup quarterbacks, redshirt senior Gaston Moore and freshman Jake Merklinger, performed.

“Both of them did a great job operating the offense, but they really have all training camp,” Heupel said. “Merklinger is a young guy that continues to get better every single day. He has great confidence and works extremely hard at it. He has a really good energy in the huddle. His demeanor is really positive.

“Gaston, has done a really fantastic job. Tonight he made some really nice throws out on the run. He has done that all of training camp. He has taken pretty good care of the football throughout the course of training camp too, so pleased with the development of both of those guys.”

READ: Josh Heupel recaps Tennessee’s fall camp scrimmage

Jake Merklinger. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

2023 Orange & White Game: Vols’ quarterbacks by the numbers

2023 Orange & White Game: Tennessee’s quarterbacks by the numbers

Tennessee concluded spring practices with its annual Orange & White Game Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

The White defeated the Orange, 17-14, before a crowd of 58,473.

PHOTOS: Tennessee’s 2023 Orange & White Game

Tennessee looks to replace starting quarterback Hendon Hooker in 2023.

Redshirt senior Joe Milton III, early enrollee freshman Nico Iamaleava Jr. and redshirt junior Gaston Moore appeared in the Orange & White Game as quarterbacks for the Vols.

Third-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed the Vols’ quarterback play after the game.

“For the quarterbacks today, I thought there was a lot of game management that was really good,” Heupel said. “You know, all in all, their eyes and decision making were pretty sound. There are some things accuracy wise that we have to continue to get better at. There are some things in situational football that you can’t do that they’ll learn from.

“That group has been really good with the way they compete and help each other in the meeting room, out on the grass. There’s a lot of development that’s left inside of that room. I love what they’ve done this spring, but we’ve got to continue to grow. That’s the reality of where you’re at when you end spring ball. You have a long way to go before you’re ready to play a football game. We have time; we’re going to be urgent in the way that we prepare. That starts when we get rolling next week.”

Below are Tennessee’s quarterbacks by the numbers in the 2023 Orange & White Game.

Vols’ 2023 quarterback battle begins in regular-season finale at Vanderbilt

Tennessee’s 2023 quarterback battle begins in the Vols’ 2022 regular-season finale at Vanderbilt.

No. 11 Tennessee (9-2, 5-2 SEC) will play at Vanderbilt (5-6, 2-5 SEC) Saturday in Week 13.

Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. EST (SEC Network) at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The in-state contest is the regular-season finale for both teams.

Redshirt senior Joe Milton III will serve as Tennessee’s starting quarterback versus the Commodores. Redshirt sophomore Gaston Moore is listed as the Vols’ backup quarterback at Vanderbilt.

Tennessee redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker’s collegiate career ended Nov. 19 at South Carolina.

The 6-foot-4, 218-pound Hooker suffered a season-ending injury versus the Gamecocks with a torn ACL in his left knee.

If Milton III intends to return in 2023 with one season remaining of eligibility, he would join Moore, freshman Tayven Jackson and redshirt sophomore Navy Shuler in a quarterback competition during spring practices in replacing Hooker.

2023 quarterback commit Nico Iamaleava Jr. is also slated to be an early enrollee at Tennessee during spring practices.

The Vols could also pursue an additional signal-caller in the transfer portal.

Below are Tennessee’s quarterbacks by the numbers ahead of the Vols’ final two games in 2022 and spring practices.

Vols’ quarterback to serve as camp coach

Tennessee quarterback to serve as a camp coach.

The All American Football Camp will take place May 20-22 at Island Recreation Center in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Tennessee redshirt sophomore quarterback Gaston Moore will serve as a camp coach for the All American Football Camp.

“Time to introduce our eighth camp coach for 2022,” Hilton Head High School head coach BJ Payne announced. “He is returning to the stadium he lit up in high school. Best hunter/fisherman on AAFC staff, from Hilton Head, Tennessee quarterback Gaston Moore.”

Moore appeared in one game for the Vols in 2021. He was two-for-two in passing attempts, totaling six yards against South Alabama.

The 6-foot-2, 207-pound Moore transferred to Tennessee from UCF ahead of the 2021 season. As a freshman in 2020 at UCF, Moore worked with the Knights’ scout team under head coach Josh Heupel.

Moore played at Hilton Head High School under Payne.

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BJ Payne discusses Gaston Moore transferring from UCF to Tennessee

Quarterback Gaston Moore transfers from UCF to Tennessee.

UCF quarterback Gaston Moore has transferred to Tennessee.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound quarterback is from Hilton Head High School in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

As a freshman in 2020 at UCF, Moore worked with the Knights’ scout team.

He played for head coach BJ Payne at Hilton Head. Payne discussed Moore transferring to Tennessee.

“He was kind of a late bloomer as far as total development as a quarterback,” Payne told Vols Wire of Moore. “His senior year he blossomed. It is one of those things now, recruiting goes earlier and earlier with kids, so it is really hard to have a great senior year and get opportunities.

“He went to UCF and loved the system and loved the coaching staff. They loved him as well. When the new transition came in, we had talked about it, and Gaston is a true sit in the pocket and spin it type guy. He runs well enough to keep you honest, but he can just flat spin it. I think it’s going to be great.”

Payne mentioned Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh recruited Moore previously.

“He was originally recruited by Golesh at Iowa State as a PWO,” Payne said of Moore. “Golesh went to UCF and that is how the UCF thing happened.”

Golesh served as Iowa State’s tight ends coach from 2016-19.

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