Off The Hook Sports continues its 2022 Tennessee football preseason preview on the top 25 impact players for the Vols this upcoming season.

Coming in at No. 15 is redshirt senior Joe Milton.

Past Performance

Let’s address the elephant in the room.

Though coaches and players have been raving about former Michigan transfer quarterback Joe Milton III’s development this offseason, he likely won’t see the field in a starting role without an unfortunate injury one slot ahead on the depth chart.

That would be the case with just about any quarterback in the country competing with Hendon Hooker for a starting role. The former Virginia Tech transfer QB enters the season as a potential Heisman candidate and one of the top passers in not only the SEC, but the country.

Pair that with a system that plays to his strengths and that yields some tough competition. But hey, that’s why the game is played, right?

Milton was a four-star prospect from Florida when he signed with Michigan out of high school. He played with the Wolverines for three seasons, starting five games in a covid-shortened 2020 season.

Milton completed 80 of 140 passes for 1077 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions in his five starts at Michigan that year. He transferred to Tennessee the following season, struggling to outduel Wolverines QB Cade McNamara for the starting role. McNamara later led Michigan to a CFP berth in 2021.

Milton earned the start for the Vols in year one, capping an offseason full of mystery and anticipation as to who Josh Heupel’s first man under center in a Tennessee uniform would be.

And to nobody’s surprise at the time, Milton won the job. He had a decent outing in the first game of the season against Bowling Green, missing a few deep balls but moving the offense with relative ease in its test run against one of the easier opponents in college football.

Milton was injured before halftime against Pitt and was held out of the rest of the game. Around then was when Tennessee fans fell in love with Hooker.

Opportunities

Hooker almost completed an improbable comeback against Pitt, eventually falling a touchdown short to 2021 Heisman candidate Kenny Pickett and 2022 Biletnikoff candidate Jordan Addison.

Still, Milton remains one of the most important players on the roster because of his main opportunities to see playing time. Were Hooker to hit the turf with an injury or be declared inactive for any reason, it’ll be the Joe Milton Show on Rocky Top.

And Hooker did suffer a few injuries last season. A hand injury against Vanderbilt was preluded by a scary fall against Ole Miss in the final minutes that injured his lower leg.

Regardless, it’s not ridiculous to believe Heupel will have packages for Milton at quarterback this season. At some point or another, the veteran leader will see the field.

Hail Mary and end-of-half plays immediately spring to mind as potential opportunities. Milton showed his ability to throw a pigskin 70 yards a few times last season. Mentoring guys like Tayven Jackson in the quarterback room is also an unappreciated quality in veteran players such as Milton.

Not to mention, having a backup quarterback such as Milton who both knows the offense and has shown proficiency in running before is a huge plus for a team attempting to create a true identity this season.

Hear it from…

It would be so easy for Milton to complain, pack his bags and transfer again.

But he hasn’t. He embraces the competition, and he’s done it with an attitude that it’s hardly a competition. Milton isn’t satisfied with riding the bench his senior year.

“Joe Milton has been an amazing teammate this entire offseason coming back,” quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle said. “You are absolutely right, there are opportunities, and I am sure a lot of people would love to take them. He wanted to stay here, he was dedicated to coming here. He has been a great teammate not just to Hendon, where they have a real, legitimate friendship, but also in trying to bring along Tayven (Jackson), as well.”

The competition will make both Hooker and Milton better in the long run. Guys that will be catching the ball from both of them this season think so, too.

“I had this conversation last night, actually, about how (Milton) is one of the most talented quarterbacks I think I’ve ever seen,” Vols tight end Jacob Warren said. “Physically, mentally, he’s a great competitor. I’m just excited that we’re going to continue to have that depth at that position, to where we can kind of trust both guys to roll in there and play.”