National media outlet's QB rankings make no sense in regard to Tennessee's Joe Milton
Tennessee Vols redshirt senior quarterback Joe Milton isn't ranked among On3's top 25 quarterbacks in college football through the first five weeks of the season after starting the season as the highest ranked SEC quarterback in their rankings. Milton hasn't been "lights out" to start the season. But he's off to a better start than […]
Tennessee Vols redshirt senior quarterback Joe Milton isn't ranked among On3's top 25 quarterbacks in college football through the first five weeks of the season after starting the season as the highest ranked SEC quarterback in their rankings.
Milton hasn't been "lights out" to start the season. But he's off to a better start than some of the quarterbacks ranked in their top 25.
For example, Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Devin Leary is currently ranked No. 22 in their top 25.
So far this season, Leary has completed 57 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,129 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also has negative 20 rushing yards on the season.
Milton, meanwhile, has completed 63 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,164 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions. He's also rushed for 139 yards and four touchdowns.
There's no doubt that Milton could play better this season. He's missed a few throws he'd like to have back (which goes for every single quarterback in the nation) and there's a few decisions he's made that he probably didn't love. But in what world is Leary a top 25 quarterback and Milton isn't?
The numbers don't lie. And the numbers say Milton has been better than Leary.
It feels like Milton isn't getting any respect because he's being compared to what Hendon Hooker accomplished last season as Tennessee's quarterback. And that's not fair to Milton.
Just because the Vols' offense doesn't look like it did last season doesn't mean that Milton isn't playing well this season. It's a different team with different personnel and different ways of beating teams. And that's the offense that Milton is operating, not the one we saw last season.
The quarterback rankings are meaningless, but it's still a shame to see Milton receive that kind of treatment from the national media.
Former Vols LB Juwan Mitchell comments on his time at Texas and Tennessee
Juwan Mitchell spent two seasons playing for the Volunteers
