Joe Milton explains 'great' connection with Tennessee receivers

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton is confident in the chemistry he has built with his receivers this offseason and over the past two years in Knoxville. With last year’s starter Hendon Hooker on to the NFL, Milton will get the chance to show that off in 2023.

The Vols star was among several college quarterbacks participating in the Manning Passing Academy this weekend at Nicholls State University. Milton impressed Friday evening by showing off his arm strength on a throw that went for 70-plus yards. Afterward, he took time to field questions from reporters, speaking on the “great” connection he has with his teammates heading into this season.

“My connection has always been good with them just because of being here for a long time,” he said. “Also, we’ve got Dont’e Thornton who just got there. It’s been great. Those guys are running it, as y’all know, they run it. But I know how the offense works. It’s pretty good. Those guys are working and they want to get better. They understand me, they understand what the offense wants and they understand how to beat guys. So they get open.”

Milton transferred to Tennessee from Michigan during coach Josh Heupel‘s inaugural season in 2021. He began that year as the starting quarterback but suffered an injury in the second game of the season that allowed Hooker to step in. Even after Milton recovered, he never got the job back and remained Hooker’s backup for the next two seasons.

Milton started the final two games of 2022 after Hooker tore his ACL, stepping up in the Orange Bowl to finish 19-of-28 passing for 251 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. If he can consistently play like that in 2023, the Vols offense likely won’t skip a beat after ranking No. 1 in both points and yards per game last season.

Tennessee loses last year’s leading receiver Jalin Hyatt as well as Cedric Tillman. However, they bring back Bru McCoy, Ramel Keyton and Squirrel White, the latter of which had a season-high nine catches for 108 yards and a touchdown in the Orange Bowl.

Then, as Milton mentioned, the Vols bring in Thornton as a transfer out of Oregon. The 6-foot-5 receiver, who ranks as the No. 5 player in On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings, had 17 catches for 366 yards and a touchdown last year with the Ducks. He could be a breakout candidate this season in the Tennessee offense.

Overall, it seems Milton will have no shortage of weapons as he takes the reigns of the offense. He’ll look to show off the connection he has developed with them all when the Volunteers open the 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Virginia.

The Bengal Tiger’s Shea Dixon contributed to this article.