The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FEBRUARY 2020 THE WOLVERINE 11 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Sitting Down With Redshirt Freshman Quarterback Joe Milton Michigan quarterback Joe Milton has been patiently bid- ing his time since arriving at U-M, learning the ropes and waiting for his opportunity. He'll battle redshirt sophomore Dylan McCaffrey for the right to start next fall, and he's put- ting in the work. Milton spoke during Citrus Bowl practices about his atti- tude and his goals. The Wolverine: Are you plan- ning on being the starter next year, and when does that com- petition begin? Joe Milton: "Most definitely. Everybody's goal is to be the starter, but my goal is just to keep working and getting bet- ter. In the beginning of the bowl practice, [the coaches] said it doesn't star t in the spring — it starts now. At the end of the day, it's been started for me. So, just keep working. "It's been going great. We're all getting better, and that's the goal, to get all of us better at the same time." The Wolverine: Where do you need to improve the most in order to win the job? Joe Milton: "I'd say touch … not throwing the ball too hard at people. Just basically put it over top so people can go get it instead of just throwing it while people are running full speed." The Wolverine: How has your leadership evolved since you arrived as a true freshman? Milton: "I've been taking that step [into a leadership role] since my freshman year. I've just been watching others and trying to develop what they're doing. I took a lot of leadership classes this summer and last semester, just basically trying to find out what bad leaders do so I don't have to adjust to that, and just trying to improve on things that I need to work on as a leader. "When I was younger, I never was outspoken. When I wanted to say something, I never spoke. Now that I'm who I am now, taking those leadership classes and being in the role that I'm in now, I speak when I want to speak. And, I speak when it's the right time to speak." The Wolverine: How hard is it to wait your turn behind other quarterbacks? Milton: "It's a very difficult challenge, watching others play. That's not what I'm used to. At the end of the day, you've got to do what you've got to do. I learned a lot from Shea [Patterson], and I'm still learning from him. I just take his game and my game and put it together." The Wolverine: Some people have suggested you might transfer if you don't start next year. How do you respond to that? Milton: "Nope. Go Blue, man. Nothing has been in my mind to go somewhere else. I'm just being patient and humble. It's going to come one day. "… At the end of the day, I'm going to keep working if I'm the starter, if I'm not the starter. So, at the end of the day, if I find out I'm not, it is what it is. I'm going to keep working." — Chris Balas Milton is ready to compete for the starting role at quarterback next fall. In limited action last season, he completed 3 of 7 passes for 59 yards with one touchdown and an interception. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL (800) 421-7751 or visit our online store TheWolverineOnDemand.com/store Michigan Clearance Sale BULOVA WATCH Item #1300 $ 199 95 FREE S&H (Reg. $229.95) RFID Tri-Fold Wallet $17.95 (FREE S&H) Garden Flags $10.95 + $2 S&H Size: 12.5"x18" Double-sided #1445 (Display pole not included) #1301 Mickey Mouse #1303 Michigan 28"x40" Banners $19.95 + $4 S&H 2.5" pole sleeve (Display pole not included) #1302 Mickey Mouse #1305 Star Wars Darth Vader #1306 Star Wars BB-8 Droid #1304 M Go Blue