Tennessee football: Josh Heupel provides update on Week 3 quarterback

Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel provided an update on the quarterback situation heading during his weekly Wednesday appearance on the SEC coaches teleconference.

After starter Joe Milton went down in the first half against Pittsburgh with a lower body injury, backup Hendon Hooker stepped into the first-team offense. As the next game approaches, questions surround Milton’s availability and Hooker’s chances to steal the job.

Both quarterbacks transferred into the program this offseason to battle for the starting job. Milton, who came to Tennessee after starting for Michigan, won the job. Hooker, a former Virginia Tech starter, was relegated to backup duties. Now, heading into a Week Three game against Tennessee Tech, Heupel must decide who will start.

“We do not have a starting quarterback yet,” Heupel told reporters during his Wednesday teleconference conference. “[Milton] was out on the practice field today, don’t know if he will be available on Saturday.”

While Week Three should not present too much stress, it is the remainder of the schedule that will concern Heupel. Coming off a disappointing loss against Pitt in Week Two, he must regroup before heading on the road to face No. 11 Florida in Week Four. From there, the schedule does not get any easier with matchups against No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Georgia and No. 17 Ole Miss.

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During his Monday press conference, Josh Heupel addressed the quarterback situation, saying “the guys that are healthy will be ready to go,” heading into Week Three.

If Milton is unable to suit up on Saturday, it will provide more important reps for Hendon Hooker, who Heupel praised this week.

“I thought he did some really good things from within the pocket,” Heupel said on Monday. “He stood in there and got hit on a couple of throws but delivered the ball accurately down the football field. Most of his decision making was right. Obviously, the pick at the end and the turnover were two costly plays. If you look at what has transpired here the first couple of weeks, the quarterback has to continue to do a better job than they have at taking care of the football.”

Hooker had 188 passing yards with two touchdowns and an interception, adding 49 rushing yards and a fumble.

“It’s tough being a backup because you don’t get the same amount of reps,” said Heupel. “You don’t know when your time is going to be called. I thought he answered the bell with a lot of positive things during the course of play. Obviously, we have to do a better job of taking care of the football.”