Joe Milton says he has not changed 'one bit' since becoming starting QB

Some things can just naturally go to people’s heads. When Joe Milton III earned his second chance as Tennessee’s QB1 following Hendon Hooker’s ACL tear, you couldn’t necessarily blame him for feeling some type of way about getting this opportunity again.

However, Milton showed his humility once again during his media availability at the Orange Bowl on Wednesday. He said starting again for the Volunteers hasn’t changed anything about him besides the workload he has been handling at practice and how he’s viewed as a leader around the team.

“I haven’t changed. Not one bit. I’ve been the same person,” said Milton. “It’s called consistency. I feel like my prep from the beginning of the season to now has been the same. I haven’t changed not one thing.”

“The only thing that changed is just the reps, the amount of reps I get. I get more reps than I did when I wasn’t starting. That’s pretty much the only thing that changed,” Milton said. “Nothing else changed. My leadership role has been the same. It’s just being viewed differently now from others. But, for me and myself, I’m still the same person.”

Milton started the first two games of Tennessee’s season in 2021 before suffering an injury that allowed Hooker to capitalize and take the starting job. He has been QB2 ever since and seen a handful of snaps over the course of his last two seasons in Knoxville. In the regular season finale for the Vols in Hooker’s first game out of the lineup, Milton completed 11/21 passes for 151 yards and touchdown in a 56-0 victory over Vanderbilt.

This change naturally places more responsibility on Milton’s plate as well as more shine on him as someone the team has to count on. Still, he maintains that this isn’t going to determine who he is as a player or person. Now he just wants to prove it by leading Tennessee to a bowl win over Clemson on Friday.