Former Tennessee Quarterback Gaston Moore Signs With USF, Reuniting With Head Coach Alex Golesh in Familiar Offensive System
In a move that has drawn the attention of both SEC and American Athletic Conference observers, former Tennessee quarterback Gaston Moore has officially signed with the University of South Florida (USF), reuniting with his former offensive coordinator and current Bulls head coach Alex Golesh. The transfer brings a level of familiarity and experience to USF’s quarterback room, and it also underscores how important relationships, trust, and scheme familiarity have become in the era of the NCAA transfer portal and NIL.
Gaston Moore’s journey to South Florida is one of quiet perseverance and football intelligence. He began his college career as a walk-on at UCF, where he first crossed paths with Josh Heupel and Alex Golesh. When the coaching staff moved from UCF to Tennessee in early 2021, Moore made the leap with them, eventually earning a scholarship and carving out a significant role as a dependable backup. While he never started a game for the Volunteers, his understanding of the offensive system, leadership qualities, and readiness to step in when called upon earned him consistent praise from Tennessee’s coaching staff over his three seasons in Knoxville.
The decision to transfer to USF aligns Moore once again with Golesh, who was Tennessee’s offensive coordinator from 2021 through the end of the 2022 season before taking the head coaching job in Tampa. During their time together in Knoxville, Moore absorbed the intricacies of Golesh’s tempo-driven, spread offense—a system that demands quick decisions, timing, and precise execution. That familiarity makes Moore an ideal fit to contribute at USF, where the quarterback position remains competitive and the offense is still taking shape under Golesh’s leadership in year two of his tenure.
USF, coming off a 6–7 season in Golesh’s first year, is aiming to take the next step in becoming a consistent contender in the AAC. While much attention has been placed on the program’s recruiting momentum and efforts to build depth, the quarterback position has been a critical point of emphasis heading into the 2025 season. By bringing in Moore, Golesh adds a player who not only understands the playbook intimately but also provides a calming, veteran presence in a locker room that is still relatively young at key positions. That type of stability and football IQ cannot be overstated, especially for a team seeking to solidify its offensive identity.
Moore’s role at Tennessee was largely behind the scenes, but it was nonetheless vital. He operated as a scout-team quarterback early in his career before gradually taking on a more significant role in practice, helping prepare the defense and mentoring younger quarterbacks. He was often praised for his film study habits, preparedness, and overall team-first mentality. In an era when many backup quarterbacks enter the transfer portal in search of guaranteed playing time, Moore remained committed to the Vols, even through quarterback competitions and injuries that shuffled the depth chart multiple times.
His only real opportunities to play came in limited action during blowout wins, but even then, Moore showed flashes of composure, decision-making, and solid mechanics. Coaches often mentioned how he treated every rep—practice or game—as if it were the most important of his career, a mindset that no doubt contributed to his strong relationships with Heupel, Golesh, and the rest of the staff. That work ethic now follows him to Tampa, where the opportunity for actual on-field impact may finally be in reach.
USF’s quarterback situation remains fluid heading into fall camp. While returning players and other transfers are vying for the starting job, Moore enters the mix with arguably the deepest understanding of Golesh’s system. That gives him a distinct advantage, not just in terms of playbook familiarity but also in being able to execute the tempo and rhythm that Golesh’s offense requires. At Tennessee, Golesh helped engineer one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, and while Moore didn’t see significant playing time in that system, he was an integral part of building and sustaining it behind the scenes.
Now, he’ll get the chance to do more than just prepare the starters—he could be one himself. And even if he doesn’t win the top job, his presence elevates the overall quarterback room. Iron sharpens iron, and competition in camp will only push everyone to be better. More than that, Moore brings intangibles that can be the difference in tight games: poise under pressure, the ability to read defenses, and a relentless commitment to preparation.
The move also highlights a broader truth about today’s college football landscape: the value of continuity and fit. With so many players entering the portal each offseason and chasing new opportunities, success often comes down to whether a player finds the right system and the right coach. Moore has both at USF. Golesh knows exactly what Moore brings to the table, and Moore has complete confidence in the system he’s stepping into. That kind of mutual trust is rare, and it could pay dividends for both parties.
From a cultural standpoint, Moore’s arrival also fits well with what Golesh is building in Tampa. The Bulls have emphasized toughness, accountability, and fast-paced execution—traits that Moore has embodied since his walk-on days. He doesn’t bring a long list of accolades or viral highlights, but what he does bring is consistency, maturity, and a deep understanding of what it takes to win. In a conference like the AAC, where parity reigns and quarterback play often makes the difference in close games, that could be the edge USF needs to close the gap with programs like SMU, Tulane, and Memphis.
Another layer to this move is what it symbolizes for Tennessee’s program. The Vols have recruited the quarterback position aggressively over the last few cycles, and Moore’s departure likely reflects both the depth at the position and the program’s overall trajectory. With former five-star Nico Iamaleava set to lead Tennessee’s offense and other talented signal-callers waiting in the wings, Moore’s path to playing time in Knoxville was understandably limited. Yet his quiet contribution to the program’s development and success over the past three seasons will not be forgotten by coaches or fans who value the complete team effort behind every win.
For Moore, the transfer is a chance to finally step into the spotlight. After years of preparation, sacrifice, and patience, he’s now positioned to lead a college football offense in real-time—not just in practices or scrimmages, but on Saturdays. It’s a rare opportunity, and one he’s undoubtedly earned. Whether he starts, competes, or simply provides elite backup support, his presence at USF is already a win for the program.
Fall camp will ultimately determine where Moore lands on the depth chart, but his leadership and understanding of the offense already give him a leg up. He knows the cadence of Golesh’s play calling. He understands the pre-snap reads, the hot routes, the timing windows, and the expectations in red zone execution. That sort of edge can’t be replicated, and it’s why his signing made immediate waves inside USF circles and among college football analysts familiar with Golesh’s past work.
In many ways, Moore’s transfer is a story of modern college football. It’s about loyalty, patience, relationships, and systems. It’s about how a player can go from walk-on status to valued team leader, and how the right opportunity can arrive when least expected. It’s also about the importance of having a coach who believes in you—something that Moore has had in Golesh for several years now. That belief has now been formalized in Tampa, and the next chapter of Moore’s career is officially underway.
The 2025 college football season promises to be full of change and chaos, just like every other year in the modern era. But for USF, the addition of Gaston Moore is a move rooted in stability, knowledge, and competitive spirit. It may not dominate headlines like a five-star signing or a top-10 team prediction, but for those who understand what wins games in November, it could end up being one of the most important additions of the offseason.
Moore may not have had the most conventional path, but it’s one marked by growth, resilience, and quiet leadership. At USF, he finally has the chance to apply all of that in a system he knows, under a coach who trusts him, on a stage that’s ready to showcase what he’s long been preparing to do.
