With the 2023-2024 college football season on the horizon, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg is spilling the (anonymous) details on the top quarterbacks around the nation.
Rittenberg’s Saturday morning article for ESPN details several quotes on the top quarterbacks in college football from anonymous opposing coaches in each’s respective conference.
The anonymous quotes are often one of the most fun aspects of the build to the college football season for some. The anonymity of the situation allows for usually honest feedback about the players, either good or bad.
So what did coaches have to say about Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III? Mostly praise, really.
Milton is set to take over the starting quarterback position for Tennessee in his sixth and final year of college football. The former Michigan transfer has played backup to Hendon Hooker over the past two seasons but didn’t transfer away because of his belief in what he could do with more time in Josh Heupel’s system.
“He’s the most dangerous guy,” an SEC defensive coordinator said about Milton via Rittenberg and ESPN. “He’s kind of like what Anthony Richardson was [in 2022], he’s humongous. I’ve watched him in warmups in pads and I’m like, ‘I hope he does not get in.’ But now he’s up.”
More from RTI: Josh Heupel Developing Joe Milton’s Situational Game While Pushing Nico Iamaleava into Challenging Situations
Milton’s two-year career at Tennessee has been shaped by his seemingly limitless potential at the position hampered by inaccuracies in throwing the ball downfield. After two years of soaking in the system as the backup and developing relationships, though, Milton feels that it is now his time to take over.
“An absolute cannon for an arm,” an anonymous SEC coach said via Rittenberg and ESPN. “There’s no vertical shot he can’t hit. He’s a little more of a pocket passer and seems to be comfortable standing back there and making throws. He’s got all the right tools you need. He can reach the far numbers; he can spray it all over the field.”
The 6-foot-5, 235-pound quarterback has looked natural and comfortable as the leader of Tennessee’s team through the first two weeks of fall camp practice. The encouraging thing about that is that Milton also looks more comfortable and accurate in throwing the ball. Additionally, head coach Josh Heupel raved about Milton’s understanding and operation of the offense after the Vols’ scrimmage on Thursday morning.
Seven other quarterbacks from the SEC received quotes in the aforementioned article. While others did draw some criticism such as Spencer Rattler’s hot-and-cold play style or Jayden Daniels’s lack of a quick trigger, Milton’s comments were overall positive.
To read Adam Rittenberg’s full article for ESPN, click here.
One Response
Joe is going to have an amazing Big Orange year!