Ranking the prospective starting quarterbacks in the SEC
By Will Thomas
![Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) looks to throw during the second half during the Florida Gators Orange and Blue Spring Game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 13, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Orange Blue Spring Game](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F5657e7cdf0f9ddbd1c02775723afba53e43b59d7ca72f2ac728ef7af4ccb5772.jpg "Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) looks to throw during the second half during the Florida Gators Orange and Blue Spring Game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 13, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Orange Blue Spring Game")
. . Joe Milton. 2. player. 839.
There may not be a quarterback in the country with a stronger arm than Joe Milton. After transferring to Knoxville from Michigan, he sat behind Hendon Hooker and watched him throw the ball at will.
After Hooker’s injury last season, he stepped in and played a solid two and a half games, including a win over Clemson in the Orange Bowl where he threw three touchdowns.
He obviously saw limited action being behind Hooker but seems as ready as anybody to step in and lead the Vols’ offense next season.
The reason I have Joe at two rather than up at number one is that I think that Tennessee as a whole is due for a bit of regression.
Don’t get me wrong that offense last year was spectacular, but losing Hooker and their top two wideouts in Hyatt and Tillman will absolutely have an effect.
That team will still put up numbers, and Milton will be right at the center of it.