Tennessee football: How Joe Milton III starting brings back Tee Martin vibes
They aren’t identical seasons, but what is happening with Tennessee football right now is similar to something that happened in 1997 when they won the SEC Championship. Just like now, the Vols were in the hunt for a national championship and had a quarterback in the hunt for the Heisman Trophy.
It all came crashing down 25 years ago when Peyton Manning lost the Heisman to Charles Woodson and the Vols lost 42-17 to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Orange Bowl. This time, it came crashing down with a 63-38 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks and a season-ending injury to Hendon Hooker.
However, hidden in that frustrating end to the 1997 season was the development of Tee Martin. Manning was injured after the SEC title, and Martin actually took more of the first team reps during the bowl practices, which was huge for his development. That translated to the 1998 national championship season.
Although it came earlier, UT is in a similar situation now. Joe Milton III can be the silver lining for the Vols with Hooker gone. Unlike Martin, Milton is actually going to start, and he has two games to do so: at the Vanderbilt Commodores and then whatever bowl they go to.
This is a huge opportunity for Milton and Tennessee football. With nothing to play for anymore in terms of championships, it’s actually a huge positive, as it gives the Vols a head start in their inevitable quarterback race next year. That will include Milton, Tayven Jackson and Nico Iamaleava.
Obviously, Milton gets the biggest opportunity, as he has a chance to showcase his development since the last time he started for the Vols, which was to open the 2021 season. If he performs well the next two games, there’s a chance no quarterback competition will be necessary.
More importantly, if Milton is going to be the guy going forward, now the team has extra time to gel with him given the practices. Again, Martin working with the team in 1997, despite not starting the Orange Bowl, was a huge part of his success in 1998.
Everybody who saw Milton start at the beginning of last year knows he has a lot to work on. His deep-ball accuracy was horrendous, and he also later in the year made that decision to run with the ball and step out of bounds with no time on the clock and a chance for a game-winning touchdown against the Ole Miss Rebels.
On the other hand, he’s got a cannon for an arm, his 6’5″ 244-pound frame makes him a physical quarterback who is elite with his legs, and he hasn’t thrown an interception yet. All signs suggest he has developed significantly since losing his starting job to Hooker last year.
Next. Top five Vols performers in 63-38 loss to South Carolina. dark
Well, now we get to see just how much development he did. Maybe these games and practices will be the biggest part of that development, and that should help him in a big way come spring practice. It’ll also help Tennessee football if it results in him becoming the starting quarterback for the Vols next year.