NFL QB draft rankings show why Joe Milton should strongly consider skipping the Citrus Bowl
Tennessee Vols quarterback Joe Milton hasn't announced yet if he plans to play in the Citrus Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes on New Year's Day. Milton, who played high school football in Orlando, is reportedly going through bowl game practices with the Vols, which would seem to indicate that the plan is for the redshirt […]
Tennessee Vols quarterback Joe Milton hasn't announced yet if he plans to play in the Citrus Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes on New Year's Day.
Milton, who played high school football in Orlando, is reportedly going through bowl game practices with the Vols, which would seem to indicate that the plan is for the redshirt senior quarterback to play against Iowa.
ESPN's latest NFL quarterback draft rankings, however, show why Milton should strongly consider skipping the Citrus Bowl.
For now, Milton is rated by ESPN as the No. 11 quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. ESPN has Milton in the late day three/undrafted free agent range.
"While Milton attempted maybe too many fastballs in the past, I saw improved patience and better decision-making in the underneath areas this season," wrote ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid on Friday.
From ESPN: Scouts were excited to see if Milton could make a leap during his first full season as a starter in an offense that's known to stretch defenses. But as an AFC scout said, "He'll wow you up close with his size and arm, but we're still waiting on all of it to click with him, and it just hasn't happened consistently enough yet."
Milton probably isn't going to increase his draft stock by playing in the Citrus Bowl. For starters, Iowa's stout defense and sluggish offensive pace likely isn't going to allow for a points explosion from the Volunteers. I think Tennessee wins the game, but I don't see the Vols going crazy and scoring an absurd amount of points. This feels like a game that Tennessee wins by a final score of something like 23-7.
Where Milton can really help his draft stock is at the draft combine and at his pro day later this winter. Milton has the measurables that NFL teams love. And he should test well in all aspects of the combine. The worst thing that could happen for Milton would be to suffer an injury in the Citrus Bowl and not be able to take part in the combine/pro day.
I'm sure Milton would love to go out with a win in his home state of Florida, but I'm not sure the risk of injury is worth it.
But ultimately, I think Milton plays in the Citrus Bowl. It's just who he is as a competitor and as a teammate. He's been fiercely loyal to Tennessee and to his teammates since arriving in Knoxville in 2021. And while it would be more than understandable if he skips the bowl game to protect against injury, I wouldn't be surprised to see him leaving it all on the field in Orlando on New Year's Day.
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