The Wolverine

March 2018

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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50 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2018 BY BRANDON BROWN Orlando (Fla.) Olympia four-star dual-threat quarterback Joe Milton has been on campus in Ann Arbor since early January and is getting a taste of a college strength and conditioning program. The 6-5, 220-pounder will also be around for spring ball, and that should give him a great launch into figuring out what it takes to play quarterback at Michigan. Enrolling early was always a part of Milton's plan, and he believes it'll help him a lot. "I just felt like enrolling early will let me learn the playbook," Milton said. "I just want to try to get on the field early." Milton's prep head coach, Kyle Hayes, believes that enrolling early will only accentuate the ability that Milton already has. Even as a fresh- man, he is one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks on U-M's roster, and Hayes believes it will only be a matter of time before his former quar- terback is too good to keep off of the field. "He's a special talent," Hayes said. "He's a big kid, especially at quarter- back. A guy can be hanging on his leg, and he can get the ball out with ease. He's like that a lot under duress. He can really push it down the field and remains pretty accurate with guys chasing him. "I think he's more confident because of that size. He's not frail or afraid of some contact because he has that size and strength." Quarterback guru Steve Clarkson — who has mentored many NFL sig- nal-callers, including the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger — worked with Milton during the Elite 11 quarterback com- petition last summer and saw physi- cal prowess and a killer's mentality. He believes that the marriage between Milton and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh could eventually take U- M's program to new heights. "Milton is everything Coach Har- baugh has ever wanted," Clarkson said. "Harbaugh loves alphas. He loves guys who aren't afraid to get into a fist fight. With Joe, he's going to take the curriculum, break it down and im- merse himself in it. This is absolutely, 100 percent, Harbaugh's type of kid. It's a perfect match." Even opposing coaches love Mil- ton's ability and upside. Orlando (Fla.) Oak Ridge head coach Clint Johnson Joe Milton Is Already Enrolled And Equipped To Compete STATISTICS Year Comp. Att. Yds. TD INT 2017 90 188 1,317 10 6 2016 82 178 1,543 17 7 2015 88 183 1,115 8 6 HONORS • Named first-team All-Metro by The Orlando Sentinel as a senior. RECRUITMENT • Committed on May 5, 2017, and never wavered from U-M. • He picked the Wolverines over Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Mi- ami. • Michigan head coach Jim Har- baugh and passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton led his recruitment. DID YOU KNOW? • Can reportedly throw a football more than 70 yards in the air. • Cousins Bill Bentley (Lions) and An- quan Boldin (Cardinals, Lions, Ravens, 49ers, Bills) both played in the NFL, while his uncle, Donald Hester, played football at Florida State. • Went to the same high school as Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois. • Participated in the Elite 11 quarter- back competition in Oregon on June 3-4, 2017. SBNation.com's Bud Elliott reported from the event: "Milton has the strongest arm at the event. It's one of the biggest I've seen in covering this event since 2012." JOE MILTON QUARTERBACK 6-5 • 220 OLYMPIA HIGH SCHOOL ORLANDO, FLA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 200 11^ 37 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 15# 60 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 119 7^ 27 ^ Ranked as a dual-threat QB; # ranked as a pro-style QB 2018 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE 50 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2018 Milton is listed as a dual-threat quarterback by Rivals.com, but calls himself a pocket passer. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN

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