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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 56-0 win at Vanderbilt

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 26, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Walker Merrill (19) celebrates with wide receiver Squirrel White (10) after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Walker Merrill (19) celebrates with wide receiver Squirrel White (10) after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 26, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III (7) rolls out to pass against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III (7) rolls out to pass against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Passing game without Hendon Hooker a concern

When it became clear that Joe Milton III would start for Tennessee football in this game due to Hendon Hooker’s season-ending injury, there was some excitement. Milton has a cannon for an arm and started the beginning of last year. Issues with downfield accuracy are why he lost his job to Hooker to begin with, but the story was he had taken a step forward.

On the first drive, Milton threw a 61-yard bomb to Jalin Hyatt, which got the Vols to the three-yard line. Jabari Small punched it in on the next play, and you had reason to believe Milton truly had developed. The issues, though, returned and persisted throughout the game after that one pass.

Milton overthrew at least three bombs for that would have been touchdown passes. He then had a play where he rolled out and did a nice job avoiding a sack but threw a ball far too hard to a wide open Squirrel White, missing him. Another clear touchdown pass to Princeton Fant over the middle was overthrown.

For the game, Milton was 11-of-21 for 147 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. That TD pass was a nice seven-yard strike to Walker Merrill, and Milton is a great leader. His teammates clearly respect him. However, this accuracy issue hasn’t gone away.

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