Josh Heupel doesn't close the door on adding another QB to Tennessee's roster
The Tennessee Vols might have the most talented one-two punch at quarterback in the nation. Redshirt senior Joe Milton, Tennessee's presumed starter this fall, and true freshman Nico Iamaleava each have the talent to be first-round selections in the NFL draft. But beyond Milton and Iamaleava, there isn't much depth in the Vols' quarterback room. […]
The Tennessee Vols might have the most talented one-two punch at quarterback in the nation.
Redshirt senior Joe Milton, Tennessee's presumed starter this fall, and true freshman Nico Iamaleava each have the talent to be first-round selections in the NFL draft.
But beyond Milton and Iamaleava, there isn't much depth in the Vols' quarterback room.
Tayven Jackson, a former four-star recruit, would've been Tennessee's No. 3 quarterback in 2023. Jackson, however, transferred to Indiana earlier this offseason (he's from Indiana).
Redshirt junior Gaston Moore, a walk-on who originally played under Josh Heupel at UCF, is a nice player to have on the roster for depth considering his experience in Heupels' offensive scheme. But I'm not sure Moore is the guy that Tennessee wants to put on the field in an emergency situation against an SEC opponent.
If Milton and Iamaleava are both out long-term at any point in 2023, the Vols' championship hopes are toast. But that doesn't mean Tennessee should just ignore the No. 3 quarterback position.
Let's say Milton suffers an injury and has to miss a game. And then Iamaleava starts and has to leave the game for a series or two to get checked out. If that happens against Alabama or Georgia, the Vols need a quarterback with more experience and upside than Moore to come into the game and lead the offense on a scoring drive.
Unfortunately for the Vols, there may not be a good option to bring in from the transfer portal. Most quarterbacks with upside are looking for a situation where they can start, not a situation where the team hopes they never see the field.
Still, Heupel isn't closed off to the idea of adding another quarterback to the roster. While Heupel isn't necessarily scouring every inch of the portal to find a quarterback, he's not ruling it out, either.
"You guys know my philosophy on the portal, I’ve said it’s a way to supplement your roster," said Heupel to reporters at a Big Orange Caravan stop in Chattanooga on Monday. "As you look at who is in, you evaluate them. Do they fit? Do they make your roster stronger, deeper, better? So we’ll continue to do that with the names that are in there. I think there are probably another day or so where some names might trickle in over the weekend.”
If there's a quarterback in the portal that piques Heupel's interest, then the Vols will entertain the idea of adding him to the roster. But otherwise, it's not like it's a situation where Tennessee feels they have to add another quarterback to the roster this offseason.
As for Moore, Heupel appears to be comfortable with his ability to run the Vols' offense if necessary.
"I thought he handled it in the spring game, but also the other scrimmages extremely well," said Heupel about Moore's understanding of the offense. "Communicates, runs it efficiently and effectively. Guys are in the right spot, he’s continuing to grow. He had a really good spring."
It wouldn't be a surprise if Tennessee enters the season with Moore as their No. 3 quarterback. But if a quarterback sneaks into the portal that isn't looking exclusively to start and won't disrupt the great vibes in UT's quarterback room, the Vols might seriously consider adding him to the roster.
