Joe Milton reveals his biggest point of emphasis during spring practice: 'Have fun'

Joe Milton had one goal for spring practice — to “have fun,” he said. He checked that box off a while ago.

From now until the season starts, his worries are coming on a case-by-case basis, whether that be physically or mentally. All he wants is to improve so, “Tennessee can be Tennessee.”

For the first time in his career, Joe Milton can be Joe Milton.

He’s the presumed starter heading into summer ball for the first time in his career. Even with the pressure of Tennessee’s 11-2 season last year and succeeding Hendon Hooker, who starred in his role in helping launch the Vols back into national prominence, looming over him.

Even with Milton being the new sheriff in town, he’s still keeping the humble mindset he had last season while sitting under Hooker, but with a twist. Milton has to approach every day with the mindset that the younger QBs are looking up to him for leadership and guidance as they navigate Josh Heupel’s unique, up-tempo offense.

“I kind of go every day as I was last year, just preparing and getting ready because you never know when your time is called. Just like last year, I didn’t know my time was called, just kept repping it, kept getting better and pushing Hendon (Hooker),” Milton said. “Now, I get more reps and I get to talk to Nico (Iamaleava), the rest of the quarterback room, Gaston (Moore) and Navy (Shuler).

“I get more reps in the mental aspect of it, just because I have to explain it to someone else. It also prepped you to be more prepared when those situations come.”

On top of that, Milton is the only QB on Tennessee’s roster that has game experience in Heupel’s offense. Since arriving in Knoxville in 2020, Milton has passed for 1,346 yards and has a 12-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio entering his final season of eligibility. Before that, he played for Michigan from 2018-2020 before hitting the transfer portal and settling down at Tennessee.

After being forced into a starting role following Hooker‘s torn ACL, Milton helped lead the Vols to a 31-14 win over Clemson in the Orange Bowl. He completed 19 of his 28 attempts (67.9 percent) for 251 yards and three touchdowns.

Now, Milton has the opportunity to be Tennessee’s full-time starter and after five seasons finally gets to show what he can do as the guy for a complete season. If anything starts to take a turn for the worse, true freshman and five-star recruit Nico Iamaleava is waiting in the wings for his turn as QB1.