Josh Heupel reveals the growth he's seen from Joe Milton since Michigan transfer

Over the course of the offseason, Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton has become one of the most highly anticipated quarterbacks to watch heading into the 2023 season.

The Michigan transfer has played in more of a backup role for the last two seasons, but will now enter the year as the Vols unquestioned starter. And at SEC Media Days, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel pulled back the curtain on Milton’s development and expectations this season.

“I think one of the great stories of college football and the era of the transfer portal is his trust and ability to recognize areas that he can continue to grow in and trust the people around him that we have his best interest at heart,” Heupel said. “Understand that within our scheme he’s gonna have an opportunity to do everything that he wants to, which is be one of the best players inside of college football.”

Tennessee quarterback prior to Milton, Hendon Hooker, was one of college football’s biggest development stories as of late, transforming into one of the most efficient and effective quarterbacks in the nation last season. And based on Coach Heupel’s words, it seems like Milton has been on a similar path leading up to his first full season as a Tennessee starter.

“And through that process over the last 18 to 24 months, he’s continued to grow and his comfort of who he is, what he’s about, how he wants to approach and attack every single day, how he wants to grow as a football player. Meaning fundamentally at the quarterback position along with understanding offensive and defensive schemes so that he can put his eyes in the right spot, get his body in the right spot to be consistently accurate with the football,” Heupel explained.

According to Heupel, Milton has also been getting it done as a leader as well, instilling confidence in his team throughout his time in Knoxville.

“And then how he wants to impact his teammates, nobody inside of our program was surprised by the success that he had when he got his opportunity last year as a starter,” Heupel said. “He played extremely well when he got into football games throughout the season, but his preparation, his urgency, how he practiced, all those things led himself to everybody inside of our building believing that he was going to play at that type of level.”

From his limited reps throughout the season, to when he took over as the team’s starter in the final two games of the 2022 season following Hooker’s season-ending injury, Milton impressed. He completed 64.6% of his passes for 971 yards, 10 touchdowns, and zero interceptions in his eight game appearances last season. And according to Heupel, he could show even more improvement this year for the Volunteers.

“And he’s got a lot more out there, he’s had a great offseason. For 15 practices in spring ball, did a great job of working, navigating the pocket, being extremely accurate with the football. I’m really excited to get back on the grass with him during the course of training camp,” Heupel said. “Believe he’s poised to have a great ’23 season.”