The Tennessee Volunteers are coming off their best season in a VERY long time. The last time they had double digit wins was in 2007. After very inconsistent and underwhelming QB play in Coach Heupel’s first year in 2021, Hendon Hooker stepped up and put on a show in 2022. Tennessee finished with CFB’s best and arguably most explosive offense. Unfortunately for the Vols they are losing WR1, WR2, and TE1 as well as Heisman candidate Hendon Hooker. 

Here are the candidates to replace Hooker: 

• Redshirt Senior Joe Milton- C/O 2018 3 Star
• Freshman Nico Iamaleava- C/O 2023 5 Star

First off, we just want to say that this has to be one of the most interesting QB competitions going on this offseason. Joe Milton was part of the 2018 recruiting class that Trevor Lawrence “headlined”.  Lawrence is going on year three in the NFL, while Joe Milton is in his second college competing for a starting spot. On the other hand, Nico Lamaleava is the second overall recruit in his class.

Our Prediction

We have seen a lot of buzz around Nico, and that he will have the starting spot by the end of the year. He is apparently that good of a recruit that he could be the future of the Tennessee football program. However, we believe that Milton is going to take this job. A team that has been a powerhouse since like 2011, and very well known for their ability to play great defense is Clemson. Joe Milton really picked apart and destroyed the Clemson defense with no real difficulty. Milton has a cannon for an arm, and looked to have fairly good chemistry with what we assume is going to be their 2023 WR1-3 or at least pieces of the offense: Squirrel White, Ramel Keyton, and Bru McCoy. Milton also already knows the Heupel system and has experience playing in it. Not that Nico can’t learn it, but if they can give him a year to develop in it he could be scary in 2024. Milton should take the job and keep Tennessee scary and competitive in 2023.