Josh Heupel: Joe Milton III has been 'super consistent' after taking over as Tennessee's QB
When cameras cut to Hendon Hooker Thursday night, as the first round of the NFL Draft was playing out in Kansas City, he had Joe Milton III sitting directly to his left. It was Tennessee’s quarterback of the past and quarterback of the future, former roommates in Knoxville, together again.
Hooker came off the board Friday night, at No. 68 overall to the Detroit Lions in the third round. Milton, meanwhile, has another year with the Vols before taking his turn in the draft.
Since Milton took over for Hooker — his magical senior season come to an end with a torn ACL in the November 19 loss at South Carolina — all he’s done is continually take the right steps as Tennessee’s new franchise quarterback.
“Really proud of his habits, of being super consistent — emotionally, physically, his work habits in the building,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said Thursday during an appearance on Ramon, Kayla & Will on 104.5-FM The Zone in Nashville. “I love the steps that he’s taken in affecting our football team.”
Joe Milton III being ‘a very strong leader’ is nothing new for Vols
It was Milton that won the open quarterback competition before the 2021 season, when Heupel and his staff was newly hired at Tennessee. But Milton’s ankle injury in Week 2 against Pitt opened the door for Heupel, who took over the job and never let go.
He passed for 6,080 yards, 58 touchdowns and just five interceptions over the last two seasons, before crumpling to the turf at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.
Milton stepped back in and led Tennessee to a 56-0 win in the regular-season finale at Vanderbilt then starred for the Vols in the 31-14 win over Clemson in the Orange Bowl, winning the game’s MVP award after throwing for three touchdowns.
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But the leading Milton is doing now isn’t all that different than the way he led in the past.
“He was a very strong leader a year ago,” Heupel said, “and sometimes from the outside, didn’t get a chance to talk about it. People didn’t get a chance to see it as much.”
Josh Heupel looking for more leaders like Joe Milton III
Instead of transferring after the 2021 season, with Hooker firmly entrenched as Tennessee’s quarterback for 2022, Milton chose to stick around with the Vols and wait his turn. That time is now.
“He really helped support Hendon in a really positive way, as a great leader inside of our program,” Heupel said. “Joe has stepped to the forefront. We need other guys around him to continue to step up their leadership too so that the locker room is controlling the locker room.
“That’s where championship seasons happen. It comes from within. And we need some of those guys to continue to step up, but really love what Joe has done.”
