Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III can add another football game to his upcoming schedule. A little more than a month after the Vols wrap up the 2023 season in near his hometown with a Cheez-It Citrus Bowl matchup against Iowa in Orlando on January 1, Milton will suit up in the the Reese’s Senior Bowl, which on Sunday night announced him as having officially accepted his invite to the postseason college all-star game.
It will be an important showcase for him in Mobile in February as he works toward the 2024 NFL Draft.
This is the second year in a row a Tennessee quarterback will be at the Senior Bowl. Hendon Hooker received an invite a year ago, but couldn’t play in the game due to the knee injury he suffered late in the season against South Carolina.
The Senior Bowl made an exception in allowing Hooker to be in Mobile and watch practices, be a part of meetings and meet with NFL personnel during the week leading up to the game, and he was drafted by the Lions in the third round.
The 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl is scheduled for February 3, 2024 at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the South Alabama campus in Mobile, and the NFL Network will televise the game, which will be a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Milton’s college career, a winding journey from Michigan to Tennessee with ups and downs throughout, is nearing its conclusion and his final game for the Vols will be the Citrus Bowl Camping World Stadium is roughly 10 miles from Olympia High School, where Milton played after moving to Orlando from Pahokee for his freshman year.
The quarterback is yet to reveal if he will play in the game or opt out to ensure he is ready for the pre-draft process, which now includes a significant opportunity with the Senior Bowl.
After three seasons at Michigan, Milton transferred to Tennessee in 2021 and initially won the starting job going into his first season with the Vols.
However, his injury in the first half of the second game opened the door for Hooker to come in, and he never looked back in leading Tennessee to new heights on offense and an 11-win season in 2022. Milton stuck around as Hooker’s backup and the two became roommates and close friends.
Milton started the final two games of the 2022 season after Hooker’s injury and, after earning Orange Bowl MVP honors, took over for good this season, leading the Vols to an 8-4 record during the regular season.
Milton completed 64.7% of his passes (229 of 354) and totaled 2,813 yards with 20 touchdowns and just five interceptions in 12 games, and he added 299 rushing yards and seven touchdown runs.
As Tennessee’s offense took a step back from its record-setting standard of 2021 and 2022, Milton finished seventh in the SEC in passing (234.4 yards per game) and total offense (259.3 yards per game) and eighth in passer rating (147.27) and yards per attempt (7.9).
Milton threw multiple touchdown passes in seven of Tennessee’s 12 games this season, and his 14-game streak with at least one touchdown pass is the third-longest in program history.
There were five games in which he passed and rushed for a score, including the regular-season finale against Vanderbilt last week when he totaled six touchdowns (four passing, two rushing) while passing for a career-best 383 yards. Milton is 11-5 as Tennessee’s starting quarterback.
The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder’s combination of size, athleticism and arm talent make him an intriguing prospect for the NFL, particularly following in the footsteps of former Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, a comparable player who was taken with the No. 4 overall pick a year ago.
Milton is the third quarterback to be locked in for the Senior Bowl, joining Tulane’s Michael Pratt and South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler.
In-state WR hearing plenty from Vols, loves ‘everything about’ Tennessee
One of Tennessee’s in-state targets in the 2025 class recently received a pair of visits from the Vols after attending one of their games this season
When Joakim Dodson was younger, he couldn’t have imagined himself giving any serious thought to the possibility of playing football at Tennessee. His parents were Florida fans, and they named him after former Gators basketball star Joakim Noah, so he naturally grew up liking Florida, too.
That means he wasn’t a fan of the Vols, who are one of the Gators’ SEC rivals, despite growing up in the Memphis, Tenn., area.
“I definitely disliked Tennessee,” said Dodson, a Class of 2025 wide receiver at Collierville (Tenn.) High School. “I did not like Tennessee at all — at all.”
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College football’s top 25 recruiting classes for 2024 on signing day eve
These are the schools making waves at the top of the 2024 team rankings.
On the eve of the early signing period in the 2024 recruiting cycle, programs hope the long, hard hours pay off inside the top 25 classes.
The annual national championship contenders are out front, followed by a group of teams hoping to strike gold with elite additions as college football enters a new era with an expanded playoff.
The possibility of signing day drama is a storyline to watch this week involving a couple five-stars this cycle, but the biggest news in recruiting may have already happened following Nebraska’s successful flip of five-star Dylan Raiola, the top-ranked quarterback in this class.
Raiola backed off his commitment to Georgia, which holds another No. 1 class, and decided to blaze his own trail for a program in transition coming off Matt Rhule’s first campaign. It’s the kind of move that will be long remembered in Nebraska football lore if Raiola’s the real deal at the position.
Here’s a look at the top 25 recruiting classes heading into this week’s early signing period:
25. Kentucky Wildcats (226.4 points)
With six four-stars and 13 of the the three-star variety expected to sign this week, Mark Stoops took the balanced approach for 2024 and has a class just inside the top 25.
24. Wisconsin Badgers (226.6)
Ahead of Luke Fickell’s second season, Wisconsin needed to improve at the line of scrimmage and the Badgers feel like they’ve accomplished that goal.
23. UNC Tar Heels (228.1)
Not interested in going crazy over the portal this cycle, the Tar Heels’ majority of their 2024 class will be incoming freshmen.
22. Texas Tech Red Raiders (235.7)
This is the level of class it takes to compete for a crown in the Big 12 and it includes a five-star in wideout Micah Hudson, the No. 18 player overall.
21. Texas A&M Aggies (239.6)
With two five-star commits and 11 four-stars, Mike Elko has a strong nucleus of talent set to arrive in College Station.
20. Ole Miss Rebels (240.8)
With the top-rated transfer class this cycle including a weekend pledge from former South Carolina star wideout Antwane Wells Jr., Lane Kiffin went portal-heavy for 2024. And with incoming freshmen, the Rebels are expected welcome six four-stars on Wednesday.
19. Nebraska Huskers (245.3)
Nebraska and Matt Rhule made serious noise Monday following the commitment of five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, the No. 2 player this cycle and top-rated playmaker at his position. Raiola’s been committed to Georgia for a long time prior to deciding the Huskers were the best fit for him.
He has a chance to compete for the starting job as a true freshman in Lincoln given his talent level. Insiders expect that to be the biggest flip during this 2024 recruiting cycle.
18. South Carolina Gamecocks (248.6)
With a pair of five-star commits, Shane Beamer is restocking the cupboards in Columbia, S.C. with one of the program’s best hauls all-time if all players stick.
Toss in the trimmings from a top 10 transfer portal class thus far and the Gamecocks are going to feature several new starters at key positions in 2024.
Edge rusher Dylan Stewart is the unquestioned gem and fills an immediate need along the defensive line for Clayton White’s unit. The Gamecocks should be better up front on the other side of the football too with an infusion of talent.
17. USC Trojans (257.0)
Is USC slipping under Lincoln Riley? Perhaps.
The Trojans took a defense-first mindset this recruiting season with five of their top seven highest-rated commits coming on that side of the football.
After moving on from Alex Grinch in November, USC is undergoing a philosophical switch defensively and hope several newcomers will make an impact.
Expect USC to be active in the portal too. The Trojans have had Kansas State quarterback Will Howard on campus, but there’s been no commitment as of Monday evening.
16. Michigan Wolverines (259.0)
One would assume Jim Harbaugh would land a top-10 class coming off his third-straight Big Ten title and trip to the College Football Playoff, but it’s not going to happen for 2024. That doesn’t mean this group is short of expansive talent, however.
Anchored by four-star quarterback Jadyn Davis (Charlotte, N.C.) and Kansas City offensive tackle Andrew Sprague, it appears Michigan’s offense is set for years down the road this week.
15. Clemson Tigers (260.9)
Credit Dabo Swinney for having no wavering recruits this time of year, which is more than many elite programs can say. Long-time five-star commits Bryant Wesco (WR) and Sammy Brown (LB) will be sticking and are planning to sign this week to headline a class that’s been essentially built for months now.
And once again, the Tigers don’t appear to be tapping the transfer portal to fill personnel voids. Instead, Swinney prefers talent development from this within the program despite a couple noticeable departures from his own team to the portal this month.
14. Tennessee Volunteers (264.9)
Wideouts Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley are the highest-rated commits in this class for Josh Heupel, a group that should more than hold its own in the coming years of the expanded SEC.
Those close to the program are high on four-star incoming quarterback Jake Merklinger and a couple high-end offensive linemen, including Texas native tackle Max Anderson.
Boo Carter, a safety from Tennessee, has a chance to play early for the Vols given his talented pedigree as one of this cycle’s best at his position.
13. Penn State Nittany Lions (266.4)
Not the needle-moving class expected under James Franklin after elite-level success in the 2022 cycle, this group closely matches the caliber of talent the Nittany Lions signed this time last year.
Penn State has seven commits ranked inside the top 200 nationally, including top-rated tight end Luke Reynolds, the fifth-best running back in Quinton Martin and quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, the No. 8 player at his position. Three four-star offensive linemen round out a solid group that’s expected to make it official this week.
12. LSU Tigers (270.0)
With 18 four-star commits including four in the top 100, Brian Kelly has to like what he has at the top of this year’s recruiting cycle.
The Tigers don’t have a five-star and their portal group is currently ranked outside the top 40, but there are still a couple instant-impact guys who should emerge for a program that is well-stocked to compete for a high-end finish in the SEC next fall.
In-state tight end Trey’Dez Green is LSU’s highest-ranked commit as the No. 45 player. Behind him, four-star safety Dashawn McBryde ranks No. 52 overall.
11. Auburn Tigers (272.3)
The first full class for Hugh Freeze and staff on the Plains, this one has star potential at the top with a pair of in-state, five-star wideouts — Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson.
Multiple programs have been after both, but it appears the Tigers are going to hang on to their pass-catching arsenal. Auburn’s going to sign two other four-stars at the position and landed Georgia State receiver Robert Lewis out of the portal.
In one cycle, Freeze completely flipped that personnel group. The Tigers are still hoping to flip top-ranked safety K.J. Bolden from Florida State.
10. Florida Gators (272.7)
A couple weeks ago, this class for Billy Napier ranked No. 3, but the Gators fell several spots after a couple decommitments, including one this week from five-star safety Xavier Filsaime. Things could change for Florida later this week, but it appears this group lands some where inside the top 12.
What this program can’t afford is a flip from long-time elite quarterback commit D.J. Lagway, the highest-rated player in the class. There’s a chance another program signs him. Lagway’s other suitors include Houston, Texas A&M, Clemson and maybe USC.
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (274.0)
With three incoming freshmen and two transfer, Notre Dame’s goal of flipping its wide receiver room was accomplished this cycle.
The Fighting Irish are also holding onto their top commit, quarterback C.J. Carr, who will develop under the wing of Duke transfer Riley Leonard, who figures to be next year’s starter out of the portal.
Notre Dame reached into Charlotte, N.C., this cycle for two of its top players, and four-star pass-catchers Cam Williams and Micah Gilbert.
8. Oregon Ducks (275.3)
With five top-100 commits, Oregon’s 2024 haul checks a lot of boxes as the Ducks head into the Big Ten. Aydin Breland and Elijah Rushing are immediate impact guys along the defensive front for a program built like it plays in the SEC.
No team nationally has better-recruited the portal at quarterback this cycle than the Ducks, who have commitments from Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel and top-ranked signal caller Dante Moore (UCLA). Gabriel will be 2024’s starter, while Oregon will have Moore — the coaching staff hopes — for the next three seasons.
7. Oklahoma Sooners (276.0)
Skill positions. Offensive and defensive linemen. A couple quarterbacks. This 2024 signing class will have a little bit of everything for the Sooners depending on your preferred position.
Oklahoma’s highest-rated expected signees are defensive lineman David Stone (No. 19 player nationally), Taylor Tatum (No. 1 running back) and Zion Kearney (No. 24 wide receiver). Oklahoma has commitments from five portal additions as well ahead of its first season in the expanded SEC alongside Texas.
6. Miami Hurricanes (282.0)
With three four-star wideouts and several high-end edge rushers, Miami has vastly improved at two areas of extreme need in the 2024 cycle.
The coaching staff is excited about four-star running back addition Kevin Riley (Northport, Ala.), too. Now, the Hurricanes still need a quarterback and are tapping the portal to find one after recently hosting the top-rated signal caller available, Cam Ward.
If they don’t sign him, the Hurricanes may turn to recent portal entry KJ Jefferson, a multi-year starter from Arkansas.
5. Texas Longhorns (288.0)
Only Ohio State has more five-stars committed than the Longhorns (4), who are taking their Big 12 Championship and rising success under Steve Sarkisian to the bank to cash in. Texas flipped Florida commit Xavier Filsaime this week as one of the nation’s top-rated safeties.
St. Louis native Ryan Wingo is a five-star wideout built from the same cloth as former Alabama star DeVonta Smith, who Sarkisian helped develop into a Heisman winner during his time as the Crimson Tide’s playcaller. If there’s no drama this week, Texas secures a top 5 haul.
4. FSU Seminoles (291.0)
Five-star safety KJ Bolden is the gem of the cycle for Mike Norvell, but the Seminoles are in danger of losing him to Auburn this week. He hasn’t flipped yet, there’s a chance it happens.
This is a well-rounded group of commits for the Seminoles, coming off an unbeaten season that includes four wide receivers in a revamped room and four players at the back end of the defense.
As always, FSU is making noise in the transfer portal too after this week’s addition of Georgia linebacker Marvin Jones Jr., one of the top edge rushers this cycle.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide (293.6)
As always with Alabama during the early signing period, Nick Saban is expected to close strong and the Crimson Tide could add a flip or two this week in addition to more help from the transfer portal.
Alabama’s been extremely selective in who it goes after given what Saban has returning in Tuscaloosa after the playoff.
Seventeen of Alabama’s 22 commits are rated four-stars are higher, including Ryan Williams and the program’s quarterback of the future in Julian Sayin.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (295.6)
With a nation-leading five-star commits this cycle, Ohio State will welcome a star-studded group to Columbus. The Buckeyes hold commitments from eight of the top 150 players, including a pair of elite-level wide receivers.
Speaking of which, Florida State, Miami and Florida are reportedly working hard to flip Ohio State’s top-rated commit, Jeremiah Smith. He’s the No. 1 overall player this cycle.
Another Buckeyes commit, pass rusher Eddrick Houston, is being pursued down the final stretch by Alabama. Keep an eye on him.
1. Georgia Bulldogs (310.1)
Even with the decommitment of five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, Georgia’s title of this cycle’s top-ranked class is safe.
With more than a half-dozen commits ranked inside of the top 150 players nationally, Georgia’s simply built to succeed in the expanded SEC thanks to another premium recruiting cycle in Athens.
And like all elite programs, there could be drama this week that leads to another addition or two. Kirby Smart has signed a couple top-end groups and this is another.
