Comments from former Vols QB Joe Milton show why Tennessee is currently an ideal landing spot for top recruits

Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Joe Milton made some comments about the UT football program this past week at New England Patriots camp that should serve as a recruiting pitch for the Volunteers.

Milton, a sixth round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft by New England, was asked by a reporter what's surprised him the most since getting drafted by the Patriots.

The former Vol said that nothing's really surprised him because of the way Tennessee prepared him for the next level.

"To be honest with you, nothing," said Milton. "I feel like Tennessee has prepared me and the rest of my teammates that come from there how to operate as a man -- outside of the building [and] inside of the building. Just how much time Tennessee gave us off, it's kind of the same thing like here (New England). Once you're done in the building, you're pretty much done. Whatever you do the rest of your day is what you do. You're basically just a regular human being. So at that point, how you take care of your body, how you eat, how you operate, what you study. Like if you go home and the installs are already on the iPad and you don't study, I don't think you want to come in the next day. Just being able to prepare yourself for the next day."

There's a lot of talk about how various collegiate offensive systems prepare players for the NFL. And that can certainly be helpful. If you come from a pro style system, you'll probably adjust to an NFL system a bit quicker.

But ultimately, being prepared for the NFL is about how you handle yourself as a pro. Can you do the work when no one is looking? Are going to work harder than the guy who was drafted ahead of you? Are you going to do more than required when no one is looking?

It's that kind of work ethic that Tennessee instills in players that truly helps prepare them for the NFL.

Because here's the thing about offensive systems -- players are always adjusting to new ones. There are changes and wrinkles that come every season in the NFL. New hires, new schemes, new terminology, etc. Good football players have to have the ability to adapt to new systems -- regardless of where they went to college.

It's the stuff that often goes unnoticed -- how bad do you want to win every day of the week and how hard are you willing to work to make sure you win -- that helps turn a fringe NFL player into a star.

And that's why Tennessee should currently be considered one of the top destinations for young elite players.

Related: Bob Stoops should root for Josh Heupel over Oklahoma in 2024 and it shouldn't even be a hard decision