SEC Football: Ranking each of the conference’s starting quarterbacks

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 08: Jayden Daniels #5 of the LSU Tigers throws the ball during the first half a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Tiger Stadium on October 08, 2022 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 08: Jayden Daniels #5 of the LSU Tigers throws the ball during the first half a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Tiger Stadium on October 08, 2022 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Dec 30, 2022; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III (7) throws a pass against the Clemson Tigers during the second half of the 2022 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2022; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III (7) throws a pass against the Clemson Tigers during the second half of the 2022 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 8 – Joe Milton

Year: Senior

Team: Tennessee Volunteers

2022 Passing Stats: 53 completions, 971 yards, 10 touchdowns

We’ll catch slack for this take, but we’re not feeling the preseason hype regarding Joe Milton. The 6-5, 235-pound senior can throw a football the length of two football fields, but that doesn’t guarantee wins.

There is a lot to like about Milton in the Josh Huepel offense. We anticipate the Volunteers’ veer-and-shoot offensive attack will be kind to Milton in most box scores. However, much like his predecessor, Hendon Hooker, Milton will be limited by the inability to scan the field and go through progressions.

Moreover, we don’t anticipate opposing defenses to struggle as much against Tennessee in the open field as they did last season.