Joe Milton III will not suit up for Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl against No. 17 Iowa.
The news is only slightly a surprise. Milton is officially off to the NFL after a good season with Tennessee football. The former Michigan transfer threw for 2,813 yards with 20 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in his final season on Rocky Top.
This of course means that 5-star freshman Nico Iamaleava will take the reins of the Vols offense as a starter for the first time in his young career. Iamaleava was considered by some to be the top prospect available in the Class of 2023 rankings and is a consensus 5-star talent.
Iamaleava threw for 163 yards and a touchdown during limited reps this season backing up Milton.
Milton will still be in Florida with the team to support his teammates. Here’s his post to Instagram, via X:
Joe Milton announces he is going to focus on the 2024 NFL Draft and will not play in the bowl game.? pic.twitter.com/WCVcTOQq7Q
— More Important Issues (@More_Issues) December 27, 2023
Iamaleava will get some run against one of the better defenses in the country, one that should still have plenty of talent on that side of the ball after opt-outs. Iowa’s defense allowed just 172 passing yards per game in 2023, a mark that finished 8th best in the country.
The Citrus Bowl between No. 21 Tennessee and No. 17 Iowa will kick off at 1 p.m. ET on January 1 from Orlando, Florida.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
