Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel confirms status of QB Joe Milton

Josh Heupel grinned. "I can't believe it took that long to get that question." Responding to a question from the Tennessee media regarding the status of QB Joe Milton, Heupel gave a positive update on the senior signal caller for this weekend's SEC home opener against the South Carolina Gamecocks. "I know there's a picture […]

Craig Smith — College Football & NFL Trending News Writer

Sep 25, 2023 1:13 PM EDT

Josh Heupel grinned. "I can't believe it took that long to get that question."

Responding to a question from the Tennessee media regarding the status of QB Joe Milton, Heupel gave a positive update on the senior signal caller for this weekend's SEC home opener against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

"I know there's a picture out there, but for us routinely on Sundays, we're going to make sure that our players are healthy. We have a diagnosis inside and with our doctors, but we're going to make sure medically they check up on them as well. Joe's been good, feels good. He was with us today, so I anticipate him being ready to go play really well.

Milton was rolled up by a UT-San Antonio defender with the Vols leading 28-0 late in the second quarter. He stayed down briefly, grabbing his knee, but he was able to get up and trot over to the sideline.

“I’m pretty good,” Milton said after the game. “You get banged up in football. One of the guys had my leg and the other guys tackled me. I mean, that’s part of football. But body-wise, I feel great.

It did (freak me out) at first, but when I got up and I moved my leg, I was fine."

Tennessee will need a healthy and productive Milton against the team that derailed their season last year 63-38 in Columbia. Fortunately for the Vols and their fans, it sounds like they will have it.