Tennessee’s starting kicker, Max Gilbert, turned a 53-yard rocket against ETSU into more than points on the board; he turned it into cookies. The redshirt sophomore went 3-for-3 on field goals, but his fourth-quarter bomb unlocked Moonshine Mountain Cookie Co.’s sweet NIL deal: two free cookies for every Tennessee fan. It’s a tradition in Knoxville, with past ‘Cookie Monsters’ like Alontae Taylor, Cedric Tillman, and Bru McCoy. Now, Gilbert wears the crown, and every long kick means another sugar rush for Vols Nation. Let’s dive into more about him.

Well, Maxwell “Max” Gilbert is Tennessee’s steady leg and hidden weapon. The redshirt sophomore from Memphis has gone from five-star prospect to SEC standout in just two seasons. Interestingly, he redshirted in 2023, then took over the job in 2024 and never looked back. Twenty field goals. A perfect 54 extra points. A long bomb from 52 yards. Even a Lou Groza ‘Star of the Week’ tag and SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Now in 2025, he’s started hot again, drilling a 53-yarder that had Neyland roaring. But there’s more to it than that.

Max Gilbert’s journey to Tennessee started at Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis. Standing 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, he first stood out on the soccer field before switching to football. There, as a kicker and punter, he quickly made his mark. On top of that, in high school, he drilled six field goals, including a 47-yarder, sank 45-of-46 extra points, and averaged 42.2 yards on 17 punts. Honors followed fast: First Team Division II-AA Preseason All-State and a spot in the 2022 Liberty Bowl All-Star Game. Interestingly, coached by Kevin Locastro and teammates with future Vols linebacker Ben Bolton, Gilbert left no doubt he was ready for the next level. So, at 6’0” and 200 pounds, he’s built for power and consistency. But was he able to show that on Saturday?

Here’s the thing: despite a rocky moment in the fourth quarter, Tennessee kicker Max Gilbert showed resilience against Georgia. The redshirt sophomore missed a late field goal but bounced back to deliver a 42-yard attempt in overtime. Following that, Vols HC Josh Heupel praised his poise. “He had his head high. That is the life of being a kicker. I loved the way he responded. He will continue to grow. We’ve got great trust in him,” said Heupel. And Gilbert’s clutch effort came with the game on the line.

He pushed a 43-yard game-tying field goal in the final 10 seconds of regulation, keeping hopes alive before Georgia answered with a game-winning TD. And following that, the No. 2 Vols fell 44-41 to Georgia at Neyland Stadium on September 13, marking Tennessee’s 9th straight loss to the Bulldogs. So, despite his strong track record, Gilbert couldn’t save the day, but his resilience left a mark. Given that, Heupel showed confidence in Gilbert’s resilience but didn’t let the team off the hook.

Tennessee HC weighs in on Max Gilbert’s potential

Tennessee fans felt the sting of heartbreak against Georgia. Look, the Vols had raced out to a 21-7 lead, only to surrender 17 unanswered points. They stormed back in the second half, taking control again, but a false start before Max Gilbert’s fourth-quarter field goal pushed the ball back five yards. OL Sham Umarov drew the flag, and Heupel opted to kick rather than risk another play. “I told the team it is a series of one plays that make the difference,” said Heupel. But the missed field goal was a tough moment for Gilbert, who had been perfect through the first two games.

“As a specialist, sometimes your life gets showcased in a way where you get very limited opportunities. Unfortunately, he didn’t make the one before. I love the fact he came back in overtime and drains it,” added Heupel. Why not? Despite the setback, Gilbert had earlier nailed a 48-yard kick in the fourth quarter to put the Vols ahead 38-30 with 6:40 left. And that’s not all.

After that, Gilbert redeemed himself in overtime, drilling a field goal to give Tennessee a 41-38 lead. But Georgia answered immediately, punching in a one-yard TD on the ensuing drive. Although the Volunteers came close to ending their eight-game skid against the Bulldogs, it wasn’t meant to be. Still, Heupel praised Gilbert’s poise and resilience under pressure.