ORLANDO, Fla. – As Tennessee freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava steps into the starting role in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, walk-on Gaston Moore is once again a backup in a bowl game.

Moore knows this role well, having filled it a year ago behind Joe Milton in the Orange Bowl because Hendon Hooker was out with a knee injury.

Now Milton is opting out of the Citrus Bowl, and Iamaleava will make his first start when No. 21 Tennessee (8-4) plays No. 17 Iowa (10-3) on Monday (1 p.m. ET, ABC) at Camping World Stadium.

If anything goes wrong, especially an injury, Moore would be the next quarterback on the field.

“(Moore) has functioned well during the course of the season, during spring ball, during training camp,” coach Josh Heupel said. “He’s handled bowl preparation extremely well. He’s got a really good command of what we’re doing.”

ADAMSNico Iamaleava is Tennessee’s quarterback in Citrus Bowl. What took so long?

Navy Shuler, the son of former Vols star quarterback Heath Shuler, has moved from No. 4 to No. 3 on the depth chart. Milton will be at the game, but he won’t play because he opted out.

How much has Gaston Moore played?

Iamaleava is a former five-star recruit. Moore, a redshirt junior, isn’t on scholarship. But they have about the same amount of college experience.

Iamaleava has played 52 snaps in four games this season. Moore has played 36 snaps in seven games over the past three seasons. But he’s spent four years in Heupel’s offense, including the 2020 season as a freshman at UCF, where the Vols are practicing this week.

This season, Moore is 4-of-9 passing for 36 yards. Iamaleava is 16-of-26 passing for 163 yards, one TD and no interceptions.

Moore didn’t have to play in last season’s Orange Bowl because Milton started and finished it without missing a snap, and he earned the MVP award.

Why Gaston Moore may be QB2 in 2024

Moore participated in senior day, but he has eligibility remaining if he wants to use it. He hasn’t announced his 2024 plans.

Moore’s role as Iamaleava’s backup in the Citrus Bowl could be a preview of next season.

Quarterback Jake Merklinger, a four-star signee, is participating in bowl practice as a 2024 enrollee. But he can’t play in the bowl game.

In spring practice, Moore and Merklinger could compete for the backup job behind Iamaleava.

The Vols also could add a veteran quarterback in the transfer portal. But Heupel said it’s difficult to lure one to Tennessee with two highly-touted young quarterbacks already on the