Josh Heupel's Track Record Is Reason Enough To Bet On Joe Milton III
Yes, we've all heard your take about Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III. Yes, we know he got benched in 2021. Yes, we know he's 6-5 with a ton of arm talent. Everyone seems to have an opinion on what Milton will be in 2023, both good and bad, but one crucial factor they are forgetting is his head coach, who happens to be pretty good at developing quarterbacks.
Josh Heupel is one of the most innovative minds in college football. You may have questions about how his scheme translates to the NFL or how it will fare in the biggest of situations, but one thing you can't question is that quarterbacks produce when the game program has Heupel's name on it. Whether it be at UCF, Oklahoma, Missouri, or Tennessee, every quarterback he's had his hands on has elevated their play. Even Milton, who was benched for Hendon Hooker in 2021, has yet to throw an interception with Heupel as his coach. This comes after a turnover-prone career at Michigan that forced a blue-chip Milton into the transfer portal.
In his first season with new starting quarterbacks at the college level, Heupel's offenses have averaged a staggering 37.3 points per game. Furthermore, in that span, he's 29-10 as a head coach. That doesn't factor in Tennessee's magical 2022 season, a year where they went 11-2, because it was his second year with Hooker manning the show. Every quarterback under Heupel hasn't dominated the NFL or won the Heisman Trophy, but every starter has seen immense improvements and gone on to the professional ranks. They all became stars at the college level that played in big games with high stakes and came through.
Tennessee HC Josh Heupel
Milton is by far the most talented quarterback that Heupel will have coached. He has all the physical tools to become a first-round draft pick, which isn't hyperbole. Many throw out Anthony Richardson as a comparison for Milton, and that trajectory isn't unthinkable. Richardson hadn't seen any substantial starting action before 2022, and the Florida Gators went a dismal 6-7. Nonetheless, in April, Richardson shook NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's hand after becoming the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Many think they are betting on Milton this upcoming season, and if you expect the Vols to reach the College Football Playoff, then you are. However, Heupel has given you plenty of reason to expect that even if the Vols don't reach those heights, Tennessee can have an uber-productive season with Milton manning the show.
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