Tennessee offensive coordinator goes in-depth Joe Milton, QB competition

Change has been the theme of the offseason for the Tennessee Volunteers, as Josh Heupel prepares for his first year at the helm of the program. As they prepare for the 2021 season, Heupel’s team is looking for a quarterback to set themselves apart from the pack.

Yesterday, Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh went in-depth on the team’s quarterback competition, including former Michigan quarterback Joe Milton III.

“All three are incredible human beings, they are all students of the game, they are up in the office hanging out the entire day,” Golesh noted of quarterbacks Harrison Bailey, Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton III, via the team’s website. “Literally you walk into coach Halzle’s office, one of those guys is sitting in there. They are the model of what we want in a Vol football player. Tough, blue collar, gritty, hard-nosed football players.”

Evidently, Golesh believes that any of his three potential options would be viable starting selections. Continuing, he mentioned that he attempted to go into the summer with a completely blank slate. 

“To be honest, I tried to go in with a totally blank slate. All three of those guys have played a bunch of football,” Golesh said. “Hendon (Hooker) finished his career at Virginia Tech, started 23 games, you kind of had a feeling for what he was going to be because of what you saw on film, there was a ton of film to see. 

“Harrison (Bailey) finished the season where you kind of had a feeling, but he was a young guy, he was a freshman, bullets were flying, he (handled it) how any 18-year-old kid would.

“Then Joe (Milton III) had some body of work, not a ton, so we went in with a completely blank slate.”

‘He’s really done a good job, really a great job of fitting in, adjusting, learning, growing.’

While Golesh mentions that Milton III didn’t have an extensive body of work, he continues to praise the Michigan transfer’s performance throughout the summer.

“He’s really done a good job, really a great job of fitting in, adjusting, learning, growing,” said Golesh. “He spent a bunch of time in May, June, July learning the system. He’s a football-smart young man.

“For him, it’s just been a terminology, a progression, a read. I think Joe has caught on really, really well. He’s progressed. He’s gotten better.”

Time will tell what quarterback Heupel and Golesh choose to lead the Tennessee Volunteers in 2021. However, it’s obvious they’re not stressing about the talent they have at the position.