Josh Heupel analyzes quarterback play in spring scrimmage

Losing a quarterback like Hendon Hooker could often cripple a program’s quarterback room. However, that won’t be the case on Rocky Top with what Josh Heupel has between the tandem of Joe Milton and Nico Iamaleava.

Heupel applauded the play of both of his QBs following Tennessee’s first spring scrimmage from over the weekend. With Milton, he liked the ball security that he saw from the senior. With Iamaleava, he appreciated the early aggression from his prized freshman. As far as growth, though, he mentioned clock management in certain situations as well as command out on the field as ways for both to improve.

“I thought, all in all, Joe did a really good job taking care of the football. I thought he slid in the pocket and he continued to get out of it. It’s a little bit different when the quarterback is not live in some of these situations. All in all, he had a really good command on what was going on,” Heupel said. “We got into some situational football in the end. Four-minute situation? There’s some things that we can learn as far as clock management.”

“Nico? Good first drive to go put it in the endzone. I thought that he responded to everything during the course of it,” added Heupel. “The command, the control out on the field? There’s some things he can learn from.”

“All in all, a really good day from those guys,” said Heupel.

Milton is going to have an edge for the Volunteers at the quarterback spot due to his experience alone. This will be his third season in Knoxville, and sixth college campaign overall, after leading Tennessee down the stretch of last year. Over that time, he has thrown for over 2,500 yards to go along with 17 touchdowns.

Still, Iamaleava has plenty of buzz for a reason. The five-star freshman quarterback is picking things up as he goes when it comes to the next level but is prepared to pick up the mantle whenever it becomes available to him.

Both of these players are going to have a very hard time living up to what Hooker did a season ago. With that said, they’re giving their best at this point of the spring and it has led Heupel to like what he sees so far.

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