Kirby Smart Offers Thoughts On Joe Milton III

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart spoke about what challenges his defense will face when matching up against Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III.

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III has had an interesting season, to say the least. The Vols starter has made strides over the course of the season, evening out some early-season deficiencies. Tennessee hasn't been the same offensive attack as they were in 2022 - there are many reasons for that, but over the past few weeks, Milton hasn't been one.

He's got the biggest start of his career ahead of him this weekend. Tennessee welcomes Georgia into Neyland Stadium, and their defensive front is just as scary as it's been over the past few years. They are in a reloading year - I say reloading because "rebuilding" would be a poor characterization of a defense allowing just 15.6 points per game. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart outlined the challenges Milton will give his defense this weekend.

"Elite arm talent. Really, really good athlete. Sometimes, at DB, you’re looking for recovery, and I can close and get a ball out because the ball’s not there. But the ball gets there .5 seconds faster, and in the game of football, .5 seconds is an eternity. It’s two or three steps. He’s elite at doing that. They create a run game with him, so they get an extra hat in the run game, which we’ll see. And they’re good at doing it." - UGA HC Kirby Smart on Tennessee QB Joe Milton III.

Milton already has one strong performance against an elite defensive unit. He came out hot against Alabama, settling into a rhythm in Bryant-Denny and confidently attacking the middle of the field. We'll see if he can match that performance and some on Saturday.

Tennessee Volunteers QB Joe Milton III during the loss to Missouri. (Photo by Saul Young of the News Sentinel)

How To Watch: Georgia @ Tennessee

• Gameday: Saturday, November 18th, 2023.
• Game time: 3:30 pm ET
• TV: CBS
• Stadium: Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)
• Live stream on fuboTV: Start with a 7-day free trial!

You Might Also Like:

• Impact Analysis: What Does Dylan Lewis Bring To Rocky Top?
• Josh Dobbs Makes Big Play Against Seahawks
• Josh Heupel Comments on Officiating vs. Alabama

Join the community:

Follow Evan Crowell on Twitter: @EvanVCrowell

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @VolunteerCountry & follow us on Twitter at @VCountryFN.