Former Michigan starter Joe Milton transfers to Tennessee, throws wrench into Vols QB plans
By John Buhler
Joe Milton is reportedly transferring to the Tennessee football program later in April.
Joe Milton has found a new home with the former Michigan starting quarterback transferring to Tennessee.
After being the Week 1 starter for the Michigan football team last season, former Wolverines quarterback Joe Milton entered the transfer portal in the offseason. He threw four touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 56.7 percent of his passes for 1,077 yards. He also added109 yards and a score on the ground.
Michigan struggled mightily in a very strange COVID-shortened season. While the Wolverines did not win a home game last year, Cade McNamara emerged as the presumptive starter in Ann Arbor for 2021. While former Texas Tech quarterback Alan Bowman and five-star freshman J.J. McCarthy are expected to compete for it, McNamara has the early edge this spring to win the starting job.
Sources: Former Michigan quarterback Joe Milton plans to sign with Tennessee. He's expected to formally commit later this month.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 19, 2021
Joe Milton will compete with Hendon Hooker to be Tennessee’s starting QB
Like Michigan, Tennessee had a season to forget last year. The Vols went 3-7 in Jeremy Pruitt’s final year in Knoxville. Quarterbacking issues were ever-present, as long-time Jarrett Guarantano transferred to Washington State this offseason.
Virginia Tech’s Hendon Hooker is likely the front-runner to win the job in Josh Heupel’s offense. While one would think former four-star Harrison Bailey would have a leg up this spring, Hooker’s biggest challenger for the job seems to be Milton.
Overall, Tennessee is not expected to compete for much of anything in the SEC this year. The Vols will likely fall in fifth-seventh place in the SEC East with the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Vanderbilt Commodores, who also employ new head coaches. If Tennessee were to push for a .500 record during Heupel’s first season with the program, that would be a massive success.
With Milton supposedly transferring to Tennessee, Heupel’s quarterback room will be improved.
The 15 blue bloods of college football. dark. Next
For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.