Hendon Hooker, who is hoping to be selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, was an incredible player on the field for the Tennessee Vols. 

He was also an incredible leader on (and off) the field. 

Replacing that leadership won't be easy for Tennessee. But fortunately for the Vols, it sounds like quarterback Joe Milton, UT's expected starter in 2023, is more than up to the challenge. 

Milton operated as a team leader in 2022 despite serving as the backup to Hooker. 

The Florida native was essentially in a role where he was reinforcing Hooker's message to the team.

In 2023, though, it will be Milton's voice that's the loudest (figuratively) among the players on Tennessee's roster. 

And based on comments from Vols coaches and players, it sounds like that leadership role won't be a problem for Milton. 

"He has become a leader," said Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle recently. "He was a guy in the past that probably would have told you he was (a leader), but now he sees what it really takes to be a leader." 

So what does that leadership actually look like? 

Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Addison Nichols provided a great example this week. 

"I love Joe, I think he's a fantastic guy and he's done an amazing job stepping up into that leadership role," said Nichols on Tuesday after Tennessee's fifth spring practice. "There have been times in our workouts where we'll get up and get set and the coaches will blow the whistle to run, but he'll call everyone back on the line because something wasn't right. His idea of a standard. He's very strict on it and he just holds us to a higher level. He's done an amazing job."

It's one thing to claim to be a leader, it's another thing entirely to show that leadership with actions and to have players — peers, really — respond to it. 

Milton is nailing it so far. And that's only going to help the Vols reach their ultimate goal in 2023. Which is, of course, to win it all and bring a national championship back to Knoxville.