JD PicKell: Evaluating what to take away from Joe Milton, Nico Iamaleava in spring game

The Tennessee spring game is a highly-anticipated event around Knoxville in large part because of heralded freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava. But On3’s JD PicKell says don’t forget about Joe Milton.

Just a handful on months removed for a stellar Orange Bowl performance for the Volunteers, PicKell made clear that he thinks Milton is the guy for 2023. No spring game performance from him or Iamaleava is going to change that reality.

“A word of caution: Do not let whatever he does in the spring football game, in practice 15 I should say, don’t let that make you forget what he did in the Orange Bowl. Let me remind you, in the Orange Bowl he went 19-for-28, 68% completion percentage. Translation: He was accurate. Three touchdowns, no picks, 251 yards. Joe Milton can play the position,” PicKell said. “And if he can’t play the position, we’re not going to find out in the spring football game. I would much rather trust what I saw on the biggest stage in a New Years Six bowl game.”

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PicKell also made clear that Iamaleava, On3’s No. 1 player in the 2023 recruiting class and the No. 6 player in the On3 Industry Ranking, has plenty of ability. But he’s a freshman who will take his lumps and Tennessee need not have him do that on the field when Milton is readily available, PicKell said.

“He’s going to make some throws that make your jaw drop and say ‘Wow, how did he get it over there? How did he see that safety and fit it in between the corner?’ He’s going to have some plays like that. To the same token: Expect him to have some plays where you see his youth show,” PicKell said. “He’s been on campus for like 15 minutes, dude. Give him a break. Let him develop. Let him get comfortable in the college life. Let him get comfortable in this offense. This will be the biggest spot that he has played in. Televised game, Neyland will be bumping, I bet. This is going to be a big spot for him. Allow him to make some mistakes and allow him to make some good throws.”

Even if Iamaleava wildly outperforms Milton in the spring game, PicKell urged not to go for something that might be fools gold. The chances of Iamaleava just showing up, being good-to-great and never have major struggles as a freshman are slim to none in PicKell’s mind.

“Unless he just the statistical anomaly of all anomalies, here is going to be growing pains. And for Tennessee, they don’t need to account for growing pains in 2023. This team is built to win right now. And Joe Milton has, like I said, weathered the storm, paid his dues, as experienced as it comes in terms of being a college football player. He gives you the best chance to win football games. Just by nature of experience and by nature of his physical tools. Nico is the future in Knoxville. I can’t stress that enough. He is going to be your quarterback for a really long time. But when he plays well in the spring game, if he has a better day, don’t say, ‘Hey, it’s Nico’s offense. That’s all we need to see.’ There’s a lot more going in to this than just one football game.”

Ultimately, the takeaway from PicKell is pretty simply: Iamaleava is the future, but Milton is the present.

“Joe Milton is tried and true, been through the fires and the flames of adversity. Been benched twice. He’s built for this now. He has earned his shot at this thing,” PicKell said.