[jwplayer L5EFsIjp-XNcErKyb]
ORLANDO, Fla. — Michigan has one more game left this season, with Alabama coming up in the VRBO Citrus Bowl. And while that will be quarterback Shea Patterson’s final game as a Wolverine, next season, the maize and blue will have a new leader under center.
At the moment, it’s unclear whether it will be current backup Dylan McCaffrey, who’s in his third-year, or redshirt sophomore Joe Milton. Regardless, the quarterback position seems to be one where Michigan has an embarrassment of riches.
For Milton in particular — who is back in his home city of Orlando, as a product of Olympia High School — he’s been working for his moment, knowing that he has to stay ready. He’ll have an opportunity to prove himself this offseason, given Patterson’s nearing departure. But, at the moment, his focus isn’t winning the starting job as much as it is to incrementally improve as the days, weeks and months come and go.
“It’s not just because (Shea’s) leaving,” Milton said. “Ever since he stepped on campus we’ve all just been working. Now that I know he’s leaving, it’s all work still. Everybody’s goal is to be the starter, but my goal is to keep working and get better. There’s always room for improvement. So I just keep doing that.”
Milton’s mindset has always been on the long game, not the short one. He says he picked Michigan over a southern state because of “the snow. I’m used to it now instead of having to wait for the NFL and adjust to it. I’d rather get used to it now than later.”
Given that he’s readying himself for the NFL even coming out of high school, that must mean it’s tortuous to languish on the bench without even getting a chance to prove what he’s got, right?
Yes, and no, he explains.
“It’s a very difficult challenge, just watching others play,” Milton said. “It’s not what I’m used to, but at the end of the day you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. I’ve learned a lot from Shea and I’m still learning from him. So I’ll take his game and my game and put it together.
That said, he’s remained patient, knowing that his time is coming. With that, he shot down any speculation that he could potentially transfer should things not go his way this upcoming offseason.
“(I’ve looked to) God. I haven’t looked anywhere else,” Milton said. “I’ve remained humble and true to God. Nothing’s been on my mind to go somewhere else. If you stay patient and humble, it’s going to come one day.”
Naturally, that speculation will continue if, say, McCaffrey wins the starting job sooner than later. But Milton is maintaining that ‘go to work’ mindset.
Win the job or not, he’s going to keep his head down and find a way to get better.
“At the end of the day, I’m going to keep working if I’m the starter or I’m not the starter,” Milton said. “So if I find out I’m not, it is what it is. I’m going to keep working.”