Joe Milton says Jayden Daniels, Garrett Nussmeier are ‘great’

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton spent time with several of the other top QBs from around the country at the Manning Passing Academy held at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La. last week.

Milton came away impressed with a couple of other quarterbacks in the SEC in LSU QBs Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier.

The three had been around each other before as LSU hosted the Vols in Baton Rouge last season. However, the Manning Passing Academy marked the first time Milton, Daniels and Nussmeier were able to hang out and chat.

“Those guys are great,” Joe Milton said. “This is my first time hanging around those guys personally and this close and actually getting to spend time with them personally, not just on the field. So it’s been great. Those guys have good mindsets and good heads on their shoulders. So it’s been good.”

Milton, Daniels and Nussmeier could be three of the top quarterbacks in the SEC in 2023.

Milton is entering his first season as a starter and will replace the departing Hendon Hooker. He played well in limited action last season, including leading the Vols to a victory in the Orange Bowl against Clemson.

Daniels is back after leading LSU to the SEC West title in 2022. He has plenty of hype entering the season, with ESPN analyst Greg McElory going as far as to call him the best returning QB in the SEC. Nussmeier has been impressive when he has gotten opportunities, too, and is likely the best backup quarterback in the league.

The three also seem to have mutual respect for each other, based on Milton’s comments.

Joe Milton explains ‘great’ connection with Tennessee receivers

In addition to having to replace Hooker, the Vols must also replace their top two receivers in Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman. Milton feels good about the talent Tennessee has to replace them.

“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.