Hayes: Joe Milton III’s future at Tennessee? ‘Freaky bright’

Tennessee head football coach Josh Heupel and Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III (7) celebrate after winning the Orange Bowl game between the Tennessee Vols and Clemson Tigers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022. Orangebowl1230 3015

If ever there were a doubt of the impact of Josh Heupel on the Tennessee program, it ended when Joe Milton III took the field at the Orange Bowl.

And didn’t look anything like Joe Milton III.

“Freaky bright,” Heupel said of Tennessee’s future.

He may as well have been talking about Milton, the sudden Superman of a quarterback after his brilliant performance in the Orange Bowl win over Clemson.

Because anyone who saw Milton as Michigan’s starting quarterback in 2020, or Tennessee’s starting quarterback for 2 games in 2021, must have been stunned by what played out against one of the best defenses in the nation.

Milton was poised and didn’t panic. He moved within the pocket to find 2nd and 3rd progressions, instead of escaping after the 1st was taken away.

He threw with accuracy. He threw on time and with anticipation.

Milton did everything he couldn’t do consistently until this season — and may as well be a walking billboard for what Heupel has built in such a short time in Knoxville.

“There’s so much left for us out there,” Heupel said.

And again, he could easily be speaking of Milton, who lost the job to Hooker in Week 2 of 2021 and never got it back until Hooker’s knee injury in November ended his season.

He looked like the same Milton a week later against SEC tomato can Vanderbilt, barely completing 50 percent of his passes and using his big arm for a couple of wow throws in an unremarkable game to make you forget about all the other questions.

Then Heupel got a hold of him for 15 bowl practices, and Milton’s world changed. Because that’s really the only way to describe the acute metamorphosis from a guy seemingly headed to the transfer portal again (while Vols fans pined for 5-star recruit Nico Iamaleava), to an impressive, affective and — here’s the key — consistent threat in the passing game.

He showed touch on short throws, which he hadn’t shown since he arrived on campus. He threw accurately on intermediate throws, and still had the big arm to fit throws into tight windows and throw it farther than anyone would ever need it.

He was so good, the idea now that Iamaleava — and his reported million-dollar NIL deal — will start in 2023 is almost laughable. He’ll compete with Milton, but if Milton made a significant jump in 15 bowl practices (and a week of practice as the QB1 for Vandy), what will he look like after 15 more practices this spring and an entire summer of work?

How much better could the quarterback who was benched at Michigan and Tennessee — and was a placeholder for bigger and better things as recently as a month ago — be after working an entire offseason with the first team offense?

A hint: freaky bright.

Milton was Hooker’s roommate this season, and soaked up valuable knowledge of the position, and how to manage it on and off the field. He watched a 24-year-old grown man develop into a Heisman Trophy candidate and lead a program to levels of success it hadn’t experienced since the early 2000s.

Tennessee set school records this season for average points per game (46.1), yards per game (525.5), touchdowns (79), passing touchdowns (38) and pass efficiency (181.40 QB rating). The same way Missouri set records when Heupel was the offensive coordinator for Drew Lock, and the same way UCF set records when Heupel was head coach.

Trust the system and your place in it, Hooker told Milton.

“The next play’s got to happen,” Milton said. “You have to move on to the next play. The last play, you can’t go back and change it after it’s done.”

By the end of the night in Miami Gardens, Milton had completely flipped the script on his career. He had 251 yards passing, 3 impressive touchdown throws and completed 68 percent of his passes.

It may as well have been Hooker finishing off his 5th and final season. Instead it was the most intriguing player of 2023 setting up his 6th super senior season.

They’ll be an odd symmetry between Hooker and Milton next year, one that could play out like the same beautiful symphony. Hooker transferred and found peace and prolific change.

Milton, who will turn 23 this year, transferred and might have again were it not for the unfortunate injury to Hooker. Now he has 1 season remaining to make it all right and continue the meteoric rise of the Tennessee program under Heupel.

“I’m running around, having fun again,” Milton said. “It feels like home.”

With so much more left out there.

View Comments

  • I sure hope so for him. He seems to have an amazing depth of talent. It's great..that he's...a Tennessee Vol! Go Big Orange!

  • Dude has one of the biggest cannons I’ve ever seen and he’s tall and has a smooth throwing motion. Really physically talented, but needs to learn the mental aspect of the game more

  • Do we think this might be just a tad premature. The kid has had bad game after bad game after bad game. He has 1 decent game(not great) and all of a sudden his future is freaky bright?

    • Pop I get where you are coming from and dont totally disagree. We do need to see more but unfortunately we wont see it until next season starts. We have seen improvement though. There is no denying that. During the season in mop up duty he played better. Vs vandy he played good but didnt have to do much to win. Then vs clemPson he played very good. he has tons of talent and all signs point to upward development. So I say his future is very bright. I mean if anthony richardson is a high draft pick after what he showed this season then Milton should easily be unless he just falls apart which doesnt seem likely now. he still need to work on everything and get fine tuned. he likely wont match hooks success but you just never know til the lights come on and the balls are flung. Im happy we have him and hoping he does weel and stays healthy while the heir apparent puts a little meat on the bones and learns the system. Who I really feel for is Jackson. I will be surprised if he doesnt hit the portal after spring practice.

    • LOL It's embarrassing that no media is talking about the QB situation for UGA next season..lol I mean what are they going to say, "UGA, a school that shuns throwing to anyone other than TE's, is all the hype for a QB's whom have never seen the field".. lol The only thing anyone is asking is, "man where is UGA going to be without SB?". They are right. The last time UGA tried to develop pocket passers the last two fled the program and one is playing on Sundays for doing so.

      • They aren't talking about it because:
        1. There are multiple viable options already in the QB room and of course...
        2. The current guy is 14-0 and going for another title which would give him alone more than the Vols have in the last 50 years lol

        27-13
        1998
        6 in a row

      • if 14-0 and in the NCG again = embarassing, what is getting 63 hung on you in a must win by South CAROLINA LOL. All hail the Gamecocks...Orange Bowl Champions lol.

        27-13
        6 in a row
        1998

        • You use "lol" consistently like a 13 year old girl. 14-0 and still more obsessed with Tennessee than your own team. No matter what Georgia does they'll never be the national brand Tennessee is (the TV numbers prove it) and that absolutely kills you pathetic, low IQ dawg (can't even spell dog) fans. Did you have anything else, little fella?

        • He is a troll. So, I don't want to diminish that perception with this correction.

          But he is only using the "lol" to troll/mock gwhite. It's what he does.

          Also, you seem to be overlooking gwhite's obsession/stalker behavior when it comes to the Dawgs. And yes, we use that spelling proudly.

  • Matt, are you auditioning as his agent? Or as the anti- Eric Ainge, who hates Stetson Bennett IV like a third grader hates his more athletic neighbor?
    Or the average ut fan hates Jeremy Pruitt - you know, Phil fulmer’s peak success?
    I say, good luck to Joe. Sorry he has to please such a spoiled fan base. His first loss and he will get the Eric SB IV radio treatment.

  • Heupel doubles up on everything and that includes QB insurance. We have to remember that Hooker was a dual whom improved his passing ability and his legs played a major role in year one. This year the offense improved enough as well as Hooker where his passing was the priority and breakout reason for Hyatt's and TN's passing scoring and over all #1 offensive ranking to obscene numbers. So Heupel was transitioning Hooker from a Dual threat to a dual threat with legit scary good pocket passing ability. With Milton, whose a pocket passer, not a dual style is being coached by this staff the same way to develop his pocket presence, accuracy in throwing like they did Hooker. Most of CJH's QB's have been pocket passers with developed run threat ability. This was a massive improvement and probably evidence that with full focus on Milton it's paying off.

    We have to remember that with most talented QB's, the more starts the more they calm down and settle into rhythms and got no reason to think Joe will be any different. Let's be real, there aren't many QB's CJH and staff failed to develop. Another insurance is CJH might just also play Nico in some kind of rotation but difference is, with the starters and not just in garbage time. Either way between both QB's, the offensive production just might be higher than this season was. I do think the D will take a step and cover any drop off in points production averages.

  • Well Milton needs to run the ball more. He is not a pocket passer. As big as he is, reminds me of Ohio State's Carnell Jones. Heups system is all about moving the ball. Incompletions are drive killers and make it rough on the defense. 10 years at a time. Until Milton can reign in his strength and throw touch passes, he is gonna have to use his feet more. Milton is as big as linebackers so he needs to use his size. If defenses have to use an extra body to cover Milton, that just opens up someone else for a big play.

    • he is improving and he will never be a running qb. he can run but for his size he isnt a dominant runner and more importantly doesnt want to be. frankly if he is running a lot that means his passing has not/will not develop. why not give him some more time to improve. he already has improved a lot from when he lost the job to hook. surely you can see that.

      • He is improving yes. Tennessee does not have the defense yet to hold up for the offense going 3 and out. Tennessee needs to move the chains, 10 yards at a time. Big explosive plays are important but until Milton can hit those big throws with some consistency,then he has to add another area to his game. Tennessee does not have a top 10 defense, not even a top 50 defense. 3 and outs must not happen. Tennessee needs to get 4-5 yards at a time, then try to long ball. Set up plays by making them guess whether it's run or pass. Being as old as Milton is, he is probably playing his best ball right now. Milton's biggest problem is everyone is so impressed with his arm he thinks he has to chunk it as hard as he can to impress people. And that's not the case. Tennessee needs him not to miss the wide open receiver that 10 yards down the field wide open or not to overthrow the wide open receiver that's wide open running a go route. He has gotten better on the go routes. For Tennessee to have a chance next year, 10 yards at a time is what we need. Then give it to your play makers and let them score.

        • TN has a top 20 Redzone D, had it all season. Also a top 20 ground D. The area that was our weakness was our secondary passing Defense. In certain games it locked down pretty well and in others, gave up many yards. But as long as the redzone D stood, we won the game. But total defense is based primarily on one thing, yards gained against you. Scoring D most of the season, TN was in the top 50. Teetering at 45th to 48th. We finished the season with a Overall Scoring Defense of 36th ranked nationally. That is pretty good for TN and showed vast improvement overall from a season ago. We finished 21st in Rushing Defense for the season nationally. Also, again, total defense is based on how many yards teams earned on you. TN's offense forces teams to throw it and try to avoid playing behind and tries to win shootouts against us. This is going to lend itself to more yards against us than most any other team. TN is one of the two most passed upon teams in the nation because of it. But a win this season for TN D and especially over the last few games in total Defense.

        • Your offense is just too simple to fool an elite defense. That is why teams that run it don't win titles, unless of course they are a High School team lol lol

        • you really seem to be looking at the 2021 Milton. I absolutely DO NOT want him to throw to the guy who is 10 yards if the guy 40 yards is wide open. Of course he has to not overthrow those and if he cant then jackson or Nico get the job. Of course he has to be able to hit those short throws too. I mean he has to be a solid QB. Be able to hit all the throws most of the time. he can and will mix in a few run plays but thats it. if you want more than that it aint happening. not in this system. The D is what it is and likely will be similar in production to last seasons if they dont find some DB's in the portal to last until our frosh get a year under their belts. Milton gives us the best chance to succeed right now, on paper. Nico is the wild card. Its very rare a frosh QB comes in and plays well for an entire season. he might be that one guy who could but why risk it. We are much better off giving milton his shot, a fair shot, not calling for nico the first time he overthrows someone or the second... lets review his game each week and see how he does. Give the guy a chance. i think you will be surprised. If 2021 Milton shows up then its Nico Time!

        • Fuzzy we won games bc other teams couldn't put up 50 points like Tennessee was doing. But in saying that,. Hooker was a very talented smart QB. All I am saying is Milton has to be more versatile instead of sitting back in pocket all the time.

    • He's a prostyle pocket passer. Was never a dual. Just because he's hasn't been high percentage in passing accuracy, does not make him an auto dual. He was never recruited as a dual threat,, not was his style, not even at Michigan. It's a bit of a one off that CJH developed a dual to the passing level of Hooker. Hasn't been who he is in his coaching career. But the fact that he can get either style QB to a high accuracy percentage and enough to blur the lines to where people assume QB's passing styles are all duals is amazing LOL. YEs, moving the ball, that means passing accuracy first and foremost, it just helps the system if you have running ability. But as you saw this season, as the offense developed more from last season, less need for Hooker to run and less need for run options. This is also how his sack rate went way down this year. Better passing, better offense. Yes, most QB's will have to use their feet until they get better at passing but Milton not a dual style QB but whom can become a threat with this feet until he gets better in passing. It's not a bad problem to have. Milton's size is more a an advantage for his run, than his run ability or speed alone. But first and foremost, it will be his passing accuracy that is the main threat. So far, so good through the last two games.

      • Tennessee doesn't run a pro style offense. It is a simplified offense similar to what big high school programs often run. It will win a lot of games, but every year an elite defense manages to shut them down asa evidenced byu the lack of championships for that sort of offense lol.

        • Tennessee runs a high tempo spread where the QB has to make the right read and calls to run it effectively. Tennessee did this with very few 4 star guys, mostly 3 star talent. Before you go chest pumping, Georgia had 5 star talent all over the field. You give Heup some 5 stars and let see what y'all can do.

  • That's pretty much what I was gonna say bryanchip... His passing accuracy has come along nicely but I would like to see him run the ball a bit more. His pocket presence/awareness is what I think needs the most work. What the guy has in spades though is that rocket cannon arm. Most of those throws that go over 50 yards he throws flat footed. It's like just a flick of the wrist and that ball comes out... Hard! I bet dude could throw it 80 yards of he really put some umph into it. But, if he can learn to escape when the pocket breaks down and get a few yards instead of eating so many sacks I think that'll help in so many ways. Nothing like a running QB to totally take the wind out of your defense on a third down. Us TN fans know all about that. I really liked the power sweep play we ran with Milton in the bowl game. I'd like to see more of that. He didn't get a finger laid on him until he was 8 or 9 yards down field. And he's bigger than most linebackers... Dude is an athletic freak. If he can just put it all together (have the lights come on as they say), he could have as good a season as Hookers last...
    As hard as it was to watch our defense give up so many yards, it was effective... hope we can get some better talent in the secondary as that seems to be our biggest weakness.
    Go Vols

    • His pocket presence was pretty good in the orange bowl, he moved around nicely in the pocket. I think in his mind, everyone is so impressed with his arm, that he thinks he has gotta throw it 200 mph. Defenses have to be aware of his running ability as well. Look at Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson, perfect example. They run him every 4th or 5th play just to keep the defenses honest. Milton is so big he can get 3-5 yards dragging defenders with him.

    • You can tell they are coaching him to work the reads and throw the ball. Evidence by how long he's spending in the pocket scrambling and/or holding on to the ball a little long. This is pretty common and with games under his belt will improve. I think a few things have clicked for him as he's making more technical throws and reads. Progression in read takes time and usually the last thing a QB really master before tearing it up.

      • The simplified system will make him look OK against weaker and even good Defenses, but when an elite D shows up he'll need to be able to run a more complex pro style offense like Ohio State to hang.

  • Very big for UT to keep him on board after he lost the starting gig to Hendon Hooker for the past 2 years. I remember in the start of 2021 he seemed very raw but talented and it seems like he's refined his game a good bit. Staying at UT was probably much better for his career than going to a Power 5 school and toiling away. Probably helps that he had already used his one-time transfer.

    • It's definitely his best option. He knows the system and with the freakish arm strength he has he needs to be somewhere that puts the ball in the air often. Kind of like TN's gimmicky offense does.

      • Don't use the word gimmicky.lol It's not what this offense is. Tempo Spread offense has been around for at least 20 years and it's run based like most every other offense. The difference is tempo and spread formation, D determining in route...

        • It is simplified and an elite defense can easily learn the route trees and as you saw, shut it down without much trouble. The offense you describe never wins championships for that reason. They have no answer when a real defense shows up.

        • I used gimmicky because that's what 13 out of 14 SEC teams call TN's offense. I was simplifying it for them.

          Also, this offense will never work without a solid running game. Passing alone will expose some defenses but those with depth and/or experience will keep pace.

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Matt Hayes