CAREER HONORS
2024 Reese's Senior Bowl Invitee
Maxwell Award Player of the Week (
vs. Vanderbilt, 11/25/23)
Manning Award Star of the Week (
vs. Vanderbilt, 11/25/23)
Reese's Senior Bowl Offensive Player of the Week (
vs. Vanderbilt, 11/25/23)
East-West Shrine Bowl Monday Morning Quarterback (
vs. Vanderbilt, 11/25/23)
SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week (
vs. Virginia, 9/2/23)
2023 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Semifinalist
2023 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 25 Candidate
2022 Capital One Orange Bowl MVP
CAREER
Strong-armed, veteran quarterback who played three seasons with the Vols after beginning his career at Michigan … Played in 43 games with 21 starts in his collegiate career, including 29 appearances at Tennessee with 16 starts … Possesses all of the tools to be a future NFL quarterback … Served as the starter for the first two games of the 2021 season for UT before being injured … Stayed the course, developed and spelled an injured Hendon Hooker to start the final two games of the 2022 campaign, capping it with an MVP performance in the Capital One Orange Bowl … Enrolled at Tennessee in June 2021 after playing three seasons at Michigan, including the 2020 campaign in which he was the starter in five games … Wore the SEC graduate patch after earning his bachelor’s degree from Michigan in May 2021 … In 14 career games at Michigan, accounted for 1,350 total yards of offense — 1,194 passing and 156 rushing — and eight TDs – five passing and three rushing ... Wore No. 5 at Michigan but wore No. 7 at Tennessee, the number he wore in high school ... Owned a 13-8 record as a starter in college, including 11-5 at Tennessee … In three seasons with the Vols, completed 314- of-498 (.631) passes for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns with five interceptions … Accounted for 4,664 yards of total offense at UT, adding nine scores and 505 yards on the ground ... Finished 12
th in UT career total offense … Threw 216 passes at UT before his first interception as a Vol, which was the second-longest streak of attempts without a pick in program history (Hendon Hooker, 261) and the ninth-longest streak in SEC history ... From Nov. 12, 2022 vs. Missouri to Nov. 11, 2023 at Missouri, threw at least one touchdown pass in 14 consecutive appearances, which is the third-longest streak in UT history ... Fired 24 completions of 40 or more yards in his time at Tennessee … Ranked among college football’s top 100 players for the 2023 season by On3.com … Selected to and participated in the Senior Bowl in January.
2023 – RS-SENIOR (SIXTH YEAR)
Started all 12 regular season games at quarterback (8-4 record), completing 229-of-354 (.647) passes for 2,813 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions ... Also showcased his mobility throughout the year with a career-best 299 rushing yards (24.9 per game) while averaging 3.8 yards per carry ... His seven rushing touchdowns were the most by a Vol quarterback in a single campaign since Joshua Dobbs had 12 in 2016 ... Finished with 3,112 yards of total offense, representing the third straight season a Vol QB has eclipsed the 3,000 mark and the eighth-best total in school history … Threw multiple touchdowns in six games and rushed for and passes for a score in the same game five times … Fired five 50+ yard passes during the year, which ranked second in the SEC … Did not play in the Citrus Bowl but practice and supported his teammates all bowl month … Delivered the best performance of his career on Senior Day, accounting for 394 total yards and six touchdowns to lead the Vols past Vanderbilt (11/25) ... Completed 22-of-33 passes for a career-high 383 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions through the air and added a pair of 2-yard rushing scores against the Commodores ... Was named Maxwell Award National Player of the Week for his efforts … His six touchdowns responsible for were the most in a single game by a Vol since Jonathan Crompton had six (five passing, one rushing) on Nov. 7, 2009, and he was the first Vol to accomplish the feat in an SEC game since Erik Ainge had seven passing TDs against Kentucky in a triple-overtime contest on Nov. 24, 2007... Became the only Vol this century with six total touchdowns in a regulation SEC game, as well as the only Vol with four-plus passing touchdowns and multiple rushing touchdowns in any game since 2000 ... Joined Hendon Hooker (five vs. Alabama in 2022) and Joshua Dobbs (four vs. Florida in 2016) as the only Vol QBs in the past decade with four passing touchdowns in an SEC contest ... Surpassed 200 completions on the year vs. No. 1 Georgia (11/18), connecting on 17-of-30 passes for 147 yards ... Logged 303 yards of total offense at No. 14 Missouri (11/11), completing 22-of-34 passes for 267 yards with one touchdown and leading the Vols with 36 rushing yards on 10 carries ... Accounted for 261 total yards and three touchdowns in Homecoming win over UConn (11/4), completing 11-of-14 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns and adding one 6-yard touchdown rush ... Connected with Squirrel White and Ramel Keyton on touchdown throws of 83 and 60 yards, respectively, for UT’s two longest pass plays of the season against the Huskies ... His 83-yard strike to Squirrel White was Tennessee’s longest pass play since 2006 (Erik Ainge to Robert Meachem, 84 yards vs. Memphis State) ... Had one of his most complete games at Kentucky (10/28), firing 17-of-20 passes for 227 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions ... His 85.0 completion percentage against the Wildcats was the highest by a Vol in an SEC game (min. 20 att.) since 2016 … Posted 330 yards of total offense (271 pass, 59 rush) at No. 11/8 Alabama (10/21) and completed a UT career-high 28 passes on 41 attempts, which included a pair of touchdown passes in the first half ... Completed 11-of-22 throws for 100 yards and rushed for 34 more in second straight SEC win vs. Texas A&M (10/14), and found tight end Jacob Warren for a touchdown for the second consecutive game ... Completed 21-of-32 passes for 239 yards vs. South Carolina, including one touchdown pass in the victory ... Amassed 298 yards of total offense (209 passing, 89 rushing) with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score in win vs. UTSA (9/23) ... His rushing touchdown against the Roadrunners was an
81-yard dash on a read option on UT’s first play from scrimmage, the longest run by a quarterback in Tennessee history and tied for the 10th-longest rush by a Vol in program history ... Completed 18-of-31 passes for 209 yards in win over UTSA (9/23), including a 48-yard touchdown pass to Ramel Keyton for his sixth completion of 40-plus yards this season ... Completed 20-of-34 passes and tallied a UT career-high 287 yards at Florida (9/16) with two passing touchdowns and one interception ... Completed 21-of-33 passes for 228 yards and tallied three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in the 2023 home opener vs. Austin Peay (9/9) ... Fired 11 consecutive completions over the course of two scoring drives in the second quarter against the Governors, the ninth-longest completion streak in UT history ... Accounted for four total touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) and 234 yards of total offense in the season opener vs. Virginia (9/2) to earn SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors ... Completed 21-of-30 passes for 201 yards to nine different receivers in the season opener while adding 33 rushing yards on nine carries ... In the win vs. UVA, became the first Vol with at least two passing TDs and two rushing TDs in the same game against a Power 5 opponent since Joshua Dobbs accomplished the feat vs. Missouri on Nov. 19, 2016.
2022 – RS-SENIOR
Tennessee’s backup quarterback to Hendon Hooker who was thrust into action as the starter in the final two games of the year following Hooker’s ACL injury … Played in nine total games and did not see action vs. Pitt, Florida, LSU and Georgia … Tallied 1,048 yards of total offense … Completed 53-of-82 (.650) passes for 971 yards and 10 touchdowns with no interceptions … Added 77 carries for 18 yards on the ground … Of the 114 FBS QBs to throw 10 or more touchdown passes, was the only one to have zero picks … Tied for eighth in the nation in 50+ yard passes with seven … Capped the year by leading the Vols to an Orange Bowl victory in his home state in which he was named MVP after firing 19-of-28 passes for 251 yards and a career-high-tying three touchdowns vs. Clemson (12/30) … Connected on TD passes of 16-, 14- and 46-yards in the win, including the
game-winner to Ramel Keyton in the fourth quarter … Also launched a 50-yard throw to Squirrel White in the second quarter that set up the Vols’ second score … Led UT to victory in his first start of the season in the regular season finale at Vanderbilt (11/26), going 11-of-21 passing for 147 yards and a touchdown to Walker Merrill, while finding Jalin Hyatt on a 61-yard bomb on the opening drive of the game for his longest completion of the night ... Entered after Hooker’s injury at South Carolina (11/19) in the fourth quarter and went 4-of-8 passing for 108 yards and a touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman ... Added another long connection with White, finding him for a 64-yard completion down the left sideline late against the Gamecocks ... Showed off his cannon against Missouri (11/12), attempting just three passes in the second half but tallying 105 yards and a touchdown through the air ... Completed all three of his passes against the Tigers, finding Ramel Keyton for a 46-yard touchdown and
Squirrel White for a 58-yard hookup down to the one yard line; added 11 rushing yards on one carry ... Was 4-of-7 passing for 135 yards and a touchdown against UT Martin (10/22), averaging 33.8 yards per completion while adding 23 rushing yards on three carries ... Attempted one pass in win against No. 3 Alabama (10/15), a 54-yard Hail Mary throw at the end of the first half that fell incomplete ... Excellent as a reserve against Akron (9/17), going 4-for-5 passing for 112 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the first a
57-yard shot to Ramel Keyton followed by a 38-yard connection with Walker Merrill ... Entered as a reserve and played 23 offensive snaps in the second half of season opener vs. Ball State (9/1), going 8-of-9 passing for 113 yards and a TD ... Connected with Jimmy Holiday for a 53-yard score, Tennessee’s longest play of the game, and also had a 21-yard rush in the third quarter vs. the Cardinals.
2021 – RS-JUNIOR
Served as the Vols’ starting quarterback for the first two games of the year (1-1) before being the backup for the final 11 contests … Played in eight games … Did not play against Tennessee Tech, South Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky and the Music City Bowl vs. Purdue … Completed 32-of-61 passes for 375 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions … Also rushed for 129 yards and two scores … Tallied 504 yards of total offense and four touchdowns accounted for on the season … Entered late but did not attempt a pass in win vs. Vanderbilt (11/27) ... Completed 5-of-7 passing for 32 yards vs. South Alabama (11/20) and led an 80-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter ... Played late vs. No. 1 Georgia (11/13) and completed six passes for 88 yards and a touchdown to Cedric Tillman ... Hit on the longest pass of his career against UGA, a 53-yard completion to Tillman in the fourth quarter ... Took over late for an injured Hendon Hooker vs. No. 13 Ole Miss (10/16), completing 1-of-2 passes for 12 yards and adding 13 yards on the ground ... Nearly led the Vols to a miraculous comeback in the final seconds against the Rebels … Entered late against Mizzou (10/2), posting two rushes for 39 yards with a long of 32 ... Saw late action against No. 11 Florida (9/25), going 2-of-8 through the air for 54 yards ... Was 7-of-12 passing for 50 yards and added a career-long 54-yard rush in limited action in start against Pitt (9/11) before exiting with an injury ... His 54-yard dash was the longest by a Vols’ QB since Joshua Dobbs had a 70-yard run against Missouri on Nov. 18, 2016 ... Completed 11-of-23 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown, adding 44 yards rushing and two touchdowns in a season-opening start against Bowling Green (9/2) ... Became the first UT QB to rush for multiple touchdowns in his first UT start since Alan Cockrell on Sept. 19, 1981, against Colorado State.
2020 – RS-SOPHOMORE (MICHIGAN)
Played in all six games and was the starting quarterback for Michigan in five contests during the COVID-19 shortened season … Owned a 2-3 record as a starter … Completed 80-of-141 pass attempts for 1,077 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions to earn his third varsity letter … In the first start of his career at Minnesota (10/24), completed 15-of-22 pass attempts for 225 yards with one touchdown, and added eight rushes for 58 years and a score … Completed 32-of-51 passes for 300 yards in start against Michigan State (10/31) with 59 yards added on the ground … Went 18-of-34 passing for 344 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in start at Indiana (11/7), including a 52-yard connection, his longest … Threw two interceptions on 9-of-19 passing in start against Wisconsin (11/14), and added 15 yards on the ground … Started at Rutgers (11/21) and went 5-of-12 passing for 89 yards … Completed 1-of-3 pass attempts in relief action against Penn State (11/28).
2019 – RS-FRESHMAN (MICHIGAN)
Appeared in four games as the backup quarterback … Completed 3-of-7 passes for 59 yards with one touchdown and ran five times for 16 yards to earn his second varsity letter … Ran once for nine yards in relief action against Middle Tennessee (8/31) … At Wisconsin (9/21), rushed twice for six yards … Set season highs on 3-of-4 passing for 59 yards and a touchdown against Rutgers (9/28), and ran for a 1-yard score … Saw snaps under center against Notre Dame (10/26).
2018 – FRESHMAN (MICHIGAN)
Appeared in four games at quarterback and earned a redshirt … Completed 3-of-4 passes for 58 yards and rushed seven times for 31 yards and one touchdown to earn his first varsity letter … Co-recipient of the team's Scout Offensive Team Player of the Year Award … Twice named Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week, once for his role in preparing the defense for Western Michigan and once shared the honor after preparing the defense for Penn State … Made his Michigan debut against Wisconsin (10/13) and carried the ball twice for 22 yards … Played snaps at quarterback at Rutgers (11/10) … Played at Ohio State (11/24) and completed 2-of-3 passes for 45 yards with an interception, including a 43-yard completion and also ran once for four yards … Saw action against Florida in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl (12/29), running once for 11 yards and throwing one complete pass for 13 yards.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Olympia High School in Orlando, Florida … Considered a 247Sports four-star prospect, ranked No. 172 prospect nationally, the No. 7 pro-style quarterback overall and the No. 31 prospect in Florida … Ranked by Rivals as a four-star recruit, the No. 11 quarterback prospect, the 35th-best prospect in Florida and the 189th-overall player nationally … Tabbed by ESPN as a four-star recruit, rated as the No. 111 player nationally, the No. 6 pro-style quarterback and the 25th-best prospect in Florida … Participated in the Elite 11 quarterback camp and Nike 2017 The Opening Regional combine … Completed 90-of-188 passes for 1,317 yards and 10 touchdowns with six interceptions as a senior … Also ran the ball 59 times for 262 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns in 2017 … Threw for 1,543 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior in 2016, completing 82-of-178 pass attempts … As a sophomore in 2015, completed 88-of-183 passes for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns while scoring three rushing touchdowns … Coached by Kyle Hayes.
PERSONAL
Full name is Joe Milton III … Born March 6, 2000 … Son of DeShea Bouie … Is the oldest of seven children ... Is cousins with former NFL Pro Bowl wide receiver and Super Bowl Champion Anquan Boldin ... Graduated with a bachelor's degree in American culture from the University of Michigan in May 2021 … Completed course work toward another bachelor’s degree at Tennessee in hospitality and tourism management … Moved to Orlando from Pahokee for his freshman year of high school … Was roommates with Hendon Hooker for two years … Twitter handle is @Qbjayy7 and Instagram handle is @joemilton5.
