Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Can Joe Milton deliver for Tennessee Football in 2023?

By Chris Peterson

Oct 15, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III (7) reacts to a score against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III (7) reacts to a score against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Joe Milton launched an 85-yard pass over the weekend and he seems poised to lead Tennessee football in 2023, but will he live up to the hype? 

There’s no doubt that when it comes to pure arm strength, Joe Milton, the Tennessee football quarterback, is as good as it gets.

Maybe you have seen the highlights circulating on social media of Milton launching an 85-yard pass during a quarterback camp this weekend.

If you’re shocked, you shouldn’t be. Milton has always been known for having a cannon. Adam Schefter once said he thought he could be the No. 1 overall pick when Milton was a freshman. That’s how impressed he was by the arm.

https://twitter.com/overtime/status/1662620075340251141

Unfortunately, things didn’t work out for Milton at Michigan. He struggled during the 2020 season before transferring. For the past two seasons, he was Hendon Hooker’s backup.

Yet, he got extended time at the end of last season and led Tennessee football to a win in the Orange Bowl, as well as throwing 10 touchdown passes compared to zero interceptions.

Milton threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns in the Orange Bowl. He also completed better than 67 percent of his throws. Last season, Milton threw 82 passes and completed 64.5 percent of his passes. In the year before that, the number was 51 percent.

In his previous season as a starter at Michigan, Milton completed 57 percent of his passes so that was a big leap and a very good sign for Tennessee football this season.

Milton averaged over 11 yards per pass attempt, which is insane. A greater sample size will bring that down obviously, but if Milton can replicate that play over the entire season, he might get some buzz as a first-round pick and Tennessee football should be in the mix for a playoff berth.

Josh Heupel got a good quarterback in Hendon Hooker and turned him into one of the most productive in college football. I don’t see why he can’t do it with Joe Milton. He sort of has already. The key is just consistency.

Next. Top 5 non-conference games in 2023. dark

That game against Clemson showed Milton’s vast potential and if that can translate to 2023, the Tennessee offense will be elite once again.

Home/Tennessee Volunteers