Joe Milton reveals what changed in his preparation as he took over as starting quarterback

Tennessee backup quarterback Joe Milton‘s number was called after star quarterback Hendon Hooker suffered a torn ACL in the Volunteers’ game versus South Carolina. Milton’s first start of the season in Hooker’s place was in the regular season finale versus Vanderbilt, helping lead the Vols to a 56-0 victory. After the game, he was asked if his week of preparation leading into the game changed at all with him now being the starter.

“No, nothing changed. I’ve been doing this since Hendon’s been starting, since day one,” Milton said. “Ever since that day just been preparing myself to be ready for the moment and obviously that was tonight so I had to make sure I was right for tonight.”

Milton’s mentality and preparedness paid off for him and the Vols, and he was actually their starter to begin the 2021 season before getting replaced by Hooker in Week 3. He and Hooker both transferred to Tennessee that year and are extremely close, with the two being roommates who have pushed each other to constantly improve on and off the field. Even quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle spoke this offseason about how the two have made each other better.

Milton will start for Tennessee in the Orange Bowl as they take on a team also using their backup quarterback in Clemson, as he and Cade Klubnik will face off on December 30 in Hard Rock Stadium.

Joe Milton says everything he’s doing is for Hendon Hooker

Tennessee lost their starting star quarterback and Heisman Trophy hopeful Hendon Hooker for the remainder of the season last week after he suffered a torn ACL versus South Carolina. Quarterback and roommate to Hooker Joe Milton started in his place this weekend as the Volunteers took on Vanderbilt on Saturday, as Milton spoke on how he dedicated his performance to his close friend.

“If you look at Hendon himself he’s a warrior and we live together so I told him every day this week that it’s for him. I mean yeah, I’m trying to get my stats, but at the end of the day it’s for him because he put in a lot of effort for this,” Milton said. “There’s some nights Hendon don’t even go to sleep, he’s up all night so when he got hurt and went down man, it’s really just playing for him.”

Hooker and Milton both transferred to Tennessee in 2021, Milton from Michigan and Hooker from Virginia Tech. Milton actually started the 2021 season off as the starter and was replaced by Hooker in week 3 and beyond for the Volunteers, but the two still built and have maintained an inseparable bond.

“For me personally it means a lot, just because he’s been here since day one. I’ve been there for him and he’s always gonna be there for me and vice versa, but his presence just carries a lot. The whole team just loves being around him, he’s just a great person man,” Milton said.

Hooker gave his roommate some words of wisdom in his first start since week 2 of 2021, which paid off as the Vols broke Vanderbilt’s historic, two-game winning streak Saturday defeating them 56-0.

“The best advice he game to me for this game was just be me, keep doing what I do in practice. And I mean I feel like I played well, I feel like the team played well, I mean we won, Milton said.