Tennessee Vols football may have an unexpected strength in 2024

A perceived weakness for the Tennessee Vols could actually end up being a strength for the program in 2024.

Early in the offseason, plenty of fans and analysts were clamoring for Vols head coach Josh Heupel to find a backup quarterback in the transfer portal (a task that's easier said than done).

Heupel, however, never seemed interested in pursuing a quarterback in the portal, opting instead to roll with redshirt senior Gaston Moore and true freshman Jake Merklinger as the program's top two options behind starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

That decision paid off according to 247Sports.

The national sports media outlet ranked the top 25 backup quarterbacks in college football ahead of the 2024 season and Moore came in at No. 20 (which means they think the Vols have one of the best backup quarterbacks in the nation).

From 247Sports : Smart, knowledgable, and heady, Moore is a quintessential backup, who can steer the ship in Knoxville if needed. Well-versed in the Volunteer offense Moore is basically another coach on the sideline with his cerebral approach to the game.

Obviously, the Vols can't afford to lose Iamaleava. If he goes down, Tennessee's College Football Playoff hopes are likely toast.

But the season won't be over for the Vols if Iamaleava is sidelined. Tennessee will still hope to win as many games as possible so they can reach a bowl game. And Moore, who appears to be the top backup over Merklinger (a talented and competitive freshman who has a high ceiling), has enough talent and enough knowledge of Heupel's system to win some games for the Volunteers.

Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle said before the start of fall camp that Moore is a player who knows the Vols' offensive system extremely well and can make all the throws.

"He's a guy that has been within the system for five years," said Halzle. "He's a guy that knows it inside and out, from the run game, to the RPO game, to the shot game, to anything that we're doing he can operate efficiently with the tempo. He's a huge asset to us -- which is why when he got in the portal at UCF why we knew we wanted to bring him here. He gives us that stability, that understanding, and he is a better athlete than people give him credit for. Arm strength wise, he can make every throw on the field. The guy can drive the football. You guys saw it in the spring game, he is driving 40 to 50-yard posts down the field. Athletically, he can handle it. But mentally, the guy is extremely sharp and understands everything we're trying to accomplish."

Vols head coach Josh Heupel noted last Friday that Moore played well in Tennessee's first fall scrimmage.

“Gaston just did a really efficient job," said Heupel after the scrimmage. “Made some really nice throws out on the run. He’s done that all training camp. He’s taken pretty good care of the football throughout the course of training camp too, so I’m pleased with the development of those guys.”

The reason Heupel didn't look for a backup quarterback in the portal is because he already has his ideal backup quarterback on the roster in Moore (along with a high upside true freshman in Merklinger).

Tennessee needs to keep Iamaleava healthy, but it certainly sounds like Moore can be a productive player for the Vols if his number is called at some point this fall.

Related: Former Vols OC Alex Golesh gets candid about taking over a tough situation at Tennessee in 2021