Away from team, Kiel won't make trip to Hawaii

UPDATE: Tom Groeschen reports that Bearcats starting quarterback Gunner Kiel is dealing with a personal matter and will not make the team's trip to Hawaii for its bowl game Dec. 24.

Hayden Moore will start at quarterback against San Diego State. Kiel is still on the team, according to Tuberville, but it's not known when he'll return.

Earlier: There was no update Wednesday from the University of Cincinnati on the status of quarterback Gunner Kiel, who has been away from team football practices this week because of a personal matter.

UC spokesman Ryan Koslen acknowledged Tuesday that Kiel has been away from the team, as the Bearcats prepare for the Hawaii Bowl against San Diego State on Dec. 24. Koslen had said UC might have an update Wednesday on Kiel, but there was no further word. Kiel's status for the bowl game remains unclear.

The situation involving Kiel is not a legal or disciplinary matter but rather a personal issue, UC sources said.

UC did not have a practice scheduled Wednesday, with the team set to resume practice Thursday on campus. The Bearcats are scheduled to depart Saturday morning for Hawaii via charter flight.

Kiel, a fourth-year junior from Columbus, Indiana, has been the UC starting quarterback for most of the past two years. Kiel this season threw for 2,777 yards and 19 touchdowns with 11 interceptions, in 10 regular season appearances. Kiel missed some time earlier in the year with injuries. UC went 6-4 in games started by Kiel.

Kiel's backup is redshirt freshman Hayden Moore (Clay, Alabama), who made two starts this year in place of Kiel. Moore has thrown for 1,683 yards with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions this year, in eight appearances.

Moore set a UC single-game record with 557 yards passing against Memphis on Sept. 24, in a 53-46 loss. Moore did it in a little over three-plus quarters, after starter Kiel departed with a neck injury with 3:25 left in the first period.

Moore started UC's next two games before Kiel regained his job. UC went 1-1 in the two games started by Moore.

Kiel was among 21 UC student-athletes who received diplomas during Fall 2015 commencement exercises this past Saturday, according to a school news release. Kiel's degree is in Health Education - Exercise & Fitness, according to the release.

Kiel, who would be a fifth-year player at UC in 2016, began his college football career at Notre Dame in 2012. Kiel then switched to UC and sat out the 2013 season as a transfer. Kiel became the UC starting quarterback as a sophomore-eligible player in 2014, when he tied the school single-season record with 31 touchdown passes.

While in high school, Kiel was rated the No. 1 quarterback prospect in America by several recruiting websites, including 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com.