Tennessee Football quarterback Joe Milton III’s recent trip to New York City to drum up some NIL marketing dollars was very reminiscent of the same trip that former Vol Hendon Hooker made a year ago, with one notable exception. The two quarterbacks are very, very different people.
Hooker made marketing and media rounds during the 2022 offseason last year with a quiet, conservative demeanor. That was just his style. He was much the same when he represented Tennessee Football at SEC Media Days in Atlanta.
Milton showed he had a bit more swagger and certainly didn’t shy away from the attention, even comparing himself to Cam Newton at one point. That’s a lofty comparison considering Newton, a former Heisman Trophy winner, secured a national championship in his one season at Auburn. Milton has essentially one season to make his mark, like Newton in 2010.
A little Morning Joe! ☕️@Qbjayy7 held it down on @gmfb this morning!
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) May 23, 2023
📺 @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/zlEgGZA4Nv
Milton, however, doesn’t have the same pedigree as Newton, who was a top talent coming out of high school and an even better prospect after community college. Talent was never a question for Newton. His behavior leading up to his time on The Plains was a different matter. The two both have incredible athleticism in common, but Newton was considered a more polished passer before he signed with Auburn.
Like Hooker, Milton had the confidence that he will be the starting quarterback for Tennessee as he bounded about Manhattan. He should. Per a source within Tennessee’s program, Milton has done everything needed to be a star at Tennessee.
If there was ever a question that highly touted freshman Nico Iamaleava would overcome Milton before the 2023 season, that was put to rest before spring camp even began. Milton saw that Iamaleava had the potential to make Tennessee’s quarterback situation into a real competition when Iamaleava arrived on campus in December. If Milton needed a starting gun to get ready this offseason, Iamaleava’s talent and work ethic pulled the trigger.
Replacing Hooker won’t be easy. He had one of the best seasons that any quarterback has ever had at Tennessee. He was also incredibly beloved by his teammates. He was a silent leader publicly but could get animated behind closed doors if needed. Hooker also had a cool, calm demeanor that laid a foundation of faith in the journey that Tennessee Football was taking during the offseason last year, in which no one expected much of anything out of the Vols.
Milton is much more an extrovert. That was well known among his teammates and coaches before his trip to New York City, which just cemented his outgoing flair. Milton may be as good of a leader as Hooker, but the senior will go about it in a different way. How that will relate to a team that accomplished quite a bit without him last season remains to be seen. Just because he’s standing on third base doesn’t mean he hit a triple.
It’s worth remembering that Milton has lost a starting job twice during his college career, once at Tennessee and once at Michigan. There’s no guarantee that he will shine under the Neyland Stadium lights like Hooker did. However, it’s clear by his trip to New York City, that bright lights don’t intimidate him at all.
