UT pro day
strength.
Milton threw every route imaginable, and he hit almost all of them in impressive form. The workout — which didn’t include defenders or adjusting to defensive schemes — highlighted the best that the quarterback has to offer the pros.
He sold his arm strength well. The question is whether NFL teams are buying.
Where will Joe Milton be drafted?
Milton made his point. He has an NFL-plus arm, but that was already known.
He showed it throughout his six-year college career at Michigan and Tennessee. But his play never rose to the firstround potential that his best passes suggested.
Now Milton hopes that a team with an early or mid-round pick will believe that it can finally polish the rough edges of his game to select him in the NFL Draft on April 25-27. Most mock drafts project him to go in the late rounds.
Milton was solid but unspectacular at Tennessee. Last season, he completed 65% of his passes for 2,813 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions.
The 6-foot-5, 246-pounder also rushed for 299 yards and seven TDs. At pro day, he showed his speed by running the 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds.
What Joe Milton did that he didn't do at Tennessee
It’s evident that Milton will do whatever is needed to convince a team to draft him.
Not only was his throwing session longer than quarterbacks normally do at pro day, but he also worked quite a bit under center rather than in shotgun formation.
That was a question that Hooker faced in last year’s draft, where he went in the third round to the Detroit Lions.
“My main goal (in pre-draft workouts) is to be under center more,” Milton said. “… I’m fine (under center). I actually like playing slow, to be honest.
“I know we play a fast pace here — Coach (Josh) Heupel is going to be mad at me for saying that — but I like playing slow. I feel like you get to see everything, and I’m big on details.”
Which other Vols could be drafted?
Jaylen Wright is projected to be one of the first running backs drafted, but that could happen in the second or third rounds.
He only took part in position drills at pro day. There was no reason for him to run the 40 after clocking an impressive 4.38 at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Cornerback Kamal Hadden is projected to go in the mid to late rounds after recovering from a season-ending shoulder injury.
He recorded a vertical leap of 34.5 inches, a broad jump of 10 feet, 2 inches and a 40-yard dash of 4.53 seconds.
“The rehab has been great. I think I’m a little ahead of schedule,” Hadden said. “It was just a blessing that I got to come out here and show my potential.”
But this Tennessee player really impressed
Tight end McCallan Castles arguably had the best performance among the 15 Tennessee players at pro day.
Castles’ broad jump of 10-6 would’ve tied for the longest among tight ends at the NFL Scouting Combine. His vertical leap of 37.5 inches would’ve ranked third among tight ends.
He also ran the 40 in 4.6 seconds and took advantage of a large contingent of scouts on campus to see Milton.
“I think they came to watch Joe throw that ball to the moon,” Castles said. “… But I’ve had this day on the calendar because this is the day that you make money. Come out, show out and leave nothing out there.”
Castles could be a high priority among undrafted free agents. But he’s trying to push himself onto draft boards as a possible selection.
The other Tennessee players participating in pro day likely are hoping to land in NFL camps as undrafted free agents.
They included linebacker Aaron Beasley, placekicker Charles Campbell, offensive lineman Jeremiah Crawford, defensive lineman Kurott Garland, defensive back Gabe Jeudy-Lally, wide receiver Ramel Keyton, offensive lineman Ollie Lane, defensive back Jaylen McCollough, running back Jabari Small, tight end Jacob Warren and return specialist Dee Williams.
Middle Tennessee State wide receiver Zack Dobson, a former Fulton standout, also caught passes from Milton and took part in position drills.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com . X, formerly known as Twitter @AdamSparks . Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/ subscribe.