Josh Heupel reveals his plan for Tennessee quarterback this weekend

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel offered an update starting quarterback Joe Milton and the quarterback position for the Volunteers after Milton left in the second quarter to the locker room of the Volunteers’ loss to Pitt with an apparent limp.

The extent of Milton’s injury remains unknown and Heupel stated that even if the Michigan transfer is healthy by the end of the week, there’s no guarantee Milton will start on Saturday.

“We’ll find out where he’s at during the course of the week,” Heupel said. “So there’s multiple factors that play in to who’s the guy that’s going to be taking the snaps.”

Heupel also added what Joe Milton needs to do better after his first two starts.

“Watching the video, Joe knows this too, there are opportunities to make some plays in the pass game that were certainly there,” Heupel said. “Multiple occasions where we’re running free in the secondary and there’s nobody relatively close at this level of play against a good defense. Plays that we have to make. We’ve got to be able to throw it, catch it and be a little better in protection at times, too. Certainly things that he [Joe] can function, and has shown the ability to do that. I’m just talking through training camp and the way that he’s practiced.”

Heupel continued.

“I don’t know where he’s at health-wise at this moment,” he said regarding Milton. “Right now as we go forward, the guys that are healthy will be ready to go compete and play.”

Prior to exiting the game, Joe Milton was 7-of-12 passing for 50 yards. He also added 54 yards rushing on five carries. 

After Milton left the game, Virginia Tech transfer Hendon Hooker took over finishing the game 15-of-21 passing for 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He had nine carries for 49 yards.

“Hendon Hooker did a great job coming off the bench, competing, giving us a chance, making some plays with his feet and being decisive with the ball in his hands,” Heupel said after the game Saturday. “There are things he would want to do better and do differently. Obviously, the last play he had an opportunity on where we turned it over, but I thought our football team rallied around him, believed in him, and he went out there and competed. He fought extremely hard and gave us a chance in the second half.”

If Joe Milton is unable to go in week three, Hendon Hooker will look to lead the Volunteers back to the win column against Tennessee Tech on Saturday.