Former Alabama QB has strong take on Vols QB Joe Milton
The expectation for the Tennessee Vols in 2023 is that Joe Milton will be the starting quarterback. Milton started the final two games of the 2022 season after starter Hendon Hooker tore his ACL in Tennessee's loss to South Carolina. With Hooker off to the NFL, it's Milton's turn to run Tennessee's offense. His only […]
The expectation for the Tennessee Vols in 2023 is that Joe Milton will be the starting quarterback.
Milton started the final two games of the 2022 season after starter Hendon Hooker tore his ACL in Tennessee's loss to South Carolina.
With Hooker off to the NFL, it's Milton's turn to run Tennessee's offense. His only competition for the starting job — as of now — will be five-star signee Nico Iamaleava.
Iamaleava is expected to be a Heisman Trophy-winning/championship-winning caliber quarterback for the Vols. But in 2023 he'll be a true freshman and it's unlikely he beats out Milton this fall for the starting job.
Plenty of folks around the country think the Vols will take a step back in 2023 because of the absence of Hooker.
But that might not be the case. Milton has top-overall-pick-in-the-NFL-draft type of potential. If Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle can fully unlock Milton's talent, then we could see the former Michigan transfer play at a superstar level in 2023.
And I'm not alone in that thinking. Former Alabama quarterback turned ESPN analyst Greg McElroy feels the same way about Milton.
"I really think that Joe Milton has a chance to be a superstar," said McElroy this week. "The natural ability is there. The guy can throw the ball a country mile. If there's one thing we learned, based on some of his play down the stretch, he's learned how to regulate that gun. He's got a governor on his right shoulder now. And he's not just launching the ball as far as humanly possible."
"He's allowing the receiver to run underneath it and he's not overthrowing guys with the same regularity that he once did early in the 2021 season which ultimately got him benched in favor of Hendon Hooker. I think he's got a chance to have a massive year. That's one of the sleepers in the conference that we need to keep an eye on."
Based on what we saw from Milton this season in his two starts plus in relief duty of Hooker, it could be another special season for the Vols in 2023.
I'm not saying it's going to be a situation like 1998 when Tee Martin replaced Peyton Manning and proceeded to lead the Vols to a national championship, but hey….you just never know.
Featured image via Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
