Josh Heupel addresses decision to name Joe Milton starting quarterback

On Monday, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel named Michigan transfer Joe Milton as the starting quarterback for the Volunteers.

Heupel addressed the decision, stating he didn’t think it was just ‘one thing’ that separated Milton from the rest.

“First of all, I really do mean it when I say that I love that group,” Heupel said. “They push each other and are really positive. Our team and offensive group see and feel that energy. All three of them have a positive effect on the offense and team as a whole…I really believe that all three of them will have an opportunity to go play at a really high level if given the opportunity.

“At the end of the day, Joe’s grasp of our offense in a short amount of time, his growth during the middle portion of training and his acceleration in what we are doing with his physical attributes and decision making led us to put the ball in his hands for the first game.”

Joe Milton beat out Hendon Hooker and Harrison Bailey for the starting job. Heupel said both handled the news positively.

“Both of them have handled it in a really positive way,” he said. “I know that they know we believe in them. I think that is a big part of being able to handle that information. They have continued to get opportunities to grow in practice and they will believe in who they are and what they do in their future here.”

Hooker is a transfer himself, transferring to Tennessee from Virginia Tech this offseason. In his career, Hooker has played in 25 games, making 15 starts. Last season, Hooker started seven of eight games for the Hokies, throwing for 1,339 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 620 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.

Bailey was recruited to Tennessee by the previous staff and is entering his second year in Knoxville. As a freshman, the former Marietta standout threw for 578 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in six appearances. Bailey started the final three games of the season.

Heupel was asked Monday whether he plans to use more than one quarterback in the Volunteers’ season opener with Bowling Green but did not give a direct answer.

“We have to see how the game unfolds and in different situations,” he said. “I told those guys, and I’ve said it here before — and it’s true — the strength of one position can never be one guy. All of them have got to prepare like a starter.”

Joe Milton inconsistent at Michigan

Joe Milton was thrust into his first major quarterbacking role in 2020, his redshirt sophomore campaign, as he was named the Wolverines’ starter for the season opener at Minnesota.

In his first three games, a win over Minnesota, a loss at Indiana and a loss against Michigan State, Milton completed 65 of 107 passing attempts for 869 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He had a rather short leash as Michigan’s starter, however, and that became clear in the third game of the season against Wisconsin: after a first-quarter pass was tipped and intercepted by the Badgers, Joe Milton proceeded to throw another pick on the next drive. He was pulled by head coach Jim Harbaugh in favor of sophomore Cade McNamara.

On Monday, McNamara was named the starting quarterback at Michigan