Tennessee soccer QB Joe Milton III made early case for Vols 2023 starter

Not so quick all people. After Hendon Hooker suffered a season-ending ACL harm within the second to final sport of the season for Tennessee soccer, typical knowledge was that Joe Milton III would are available and end the season earlier than shedding his beginning job to Nico Iamaleava subsequent 12 months.

All of that made sense. Iamaleava is without doubt one of the most extremely touted quarterbacks the Vols have ever landed. He is available in with a ton of hype. In the meantime, Milton misplaced his beginning job to Hooker within the first place as a result of accuracy points in 2021, and people continued when he got here again in on the finish of 2022.

Then the Orange Bowl occurred. Milton was the star, finishing 19 of 28 passes for 251 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, en path to a 31-14 win over the Clemson Tigers. He earned Orange Bowl MVP within the course of.

Up till that time, the one two video games Milton began and completed with Tennessee soccer have been wins over the Bowling Inexperienced Falcons to open 2021 and the Vanderbilt Commodores to finish 2022. He seemed, properly, beneath common in each of them throwing the ball.

On Friday, although, he reset the clock, taking part in his finest sport but in opposition to a prime 10 opponent. Clemson dared him to throw it over the center and performed smooth zone protection. He delivered, choosing them aside on all of their landing drives.

Two of Milton’s landing passes have been strikes over the center to Bru McCoy and Squirrel White. As for the deep ball, he threw an ideal landing cross to Ramel Keyton. There was additionally a deep cross to White that arrange one other landing.

Now, Keyton and White have been extensive open on these performs, and there have been loads of simple throws over the center for Milton to make. Nonetheless, Josh Heupel’s system creates these simple alternatives. The query was if Milton might convert them.

Nicely, on this sport, he did, and that calls into query precisely what Tennessee soccer’s quarterback scenario shall be in 2023. It nonetheless looks like it is going to be a large open race between Milton, Tayven Jackson and Nico Iamaleava. After the Orange Bowl, Milton must be the favourite.

Everyone knows that Heupel personally likes Milton. He made him the starter over Hooker initially. Nonetheless, Milton has gained the workforce over as properly, embracing his function as Hooker’s backup, creating and displaying himself to be a real chief.

Jackson is coming off a collarbone harm, and Iamaleava might want to spend extra time within the weight room his first offseason. That can maintain again his growth early on, even when his long-term potential is thru the roof.

After all, Heupel’s partiality to Milton was in distinction to Hooker, a quarterback he didn’t goal. Now, he’s obtained nothing however quarterbacks he particularly signed, so it may very well be a bit totally different when the race is on within the spring.

Nonetheless, Milton obtained an audition within the Orange Bowl that the opposite two didn’t get, and he delivered in a giant manner. It could have turned him into the favourite. Tennessee soccer could also be simply nice with him in 2023 whereas Iamaleava and Jackson develop.