Vols insider says it's not a certainty that Joe Milton will play in the Citrus Bowl
For the last couple of weeks, the feeling has been that Tennessee Vols quarterback Joe Milton will play in the Citrus Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Milton is from South Florida and played high school football in Orlando, which is where the Citrus Bowl will be played. It would be poetic for Milton to end […]
For the last couple of weeks, the feeling has been that Tennessee Vols quarterback Joe Milton will play in the Citrus Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Milton is from South Florida and played high school football in Orlando, which is where the Citrus Bowl will be played. It would be poetic for Milton to end his college career in the same city where he was recruited by some of the top programs in the nation.
But it's not a certainty that Milton will play against Iowa according to VolQuest's Austin Price.
Price joined 104.5 The Zone's "Ramon, Kayla, and Will" on Tuesday and he said it's not crazy to think that Milton could skip the bowl game, which would mean that true freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava would get his first career start for the Vols.
"If Joe elects not to play, and this will be a Joe decision — I don't think Josh Heupel is going to tell Joe he can't play in the bowl game — if Joe elected to not play in the bowl game, I think that's something they would probably keep quiet for at least a little bit longer," said Price. "I don't see them just unveiling it right now. Josh Heupel's big on the gamesmanship. If that (Milton opting out) were to be the case, I think we would see it a little closer — I'm not saying he's going to take it all the way to the day before the game — but I think he's going to want Iowa to spend as much time preparing for one guy when it's the other guy."
"I think that's (Milton opting out) still a possibility," added Price. "I don't think it's crazy talk to think that you could see Joe elect to not play in the bowl game."
It sounds like Nico getting his first start is at least a realistic possibility for the Citrus Bowl. But it also sounds like it will still be a few days before Milton reveals his plans for the bowl game.
I'd still lean toward Milton playing against Iowa. There's the hometown factor plus the fact that the Citrus Bowl probably won't have a major impact on Milton's draft stock. The biggest chance for Milton's draft stock to improve will be through testing at the combine and his pro day. The only reason that Milton should consider skipping the bowl game would be to avoid a potential injury (which is certainly understandable).
One scenario that could make sense, and this is purely speculation, would be for Milton to start the game with a series or two, which would allow him to take the field in Orlando for the final snaps of his collegiate career, before handing the ball over to Nico. That would help Milton avoid a potential injury while still getting a few snaps. And more importantly, for Tennessee at least, it would give the Vols a head start on the 2024 season by getting Nico some meaningful snaps against a tough defense.
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