Joe Milton on first career start: “I wasn’t scared”

New Michigan starting quarterback Joe Milton said the first snap of the game he was nervous, but then he was fine and ready to go.

“I felt happy that I was playing,” Milton said. “I don’t have to watch someone else play.”

After waiting two seasons to snag the starting job, it’s definitively Milton’s gig in year three, and he looked quite calm throughout his 15-of-22 for 225 yard, 1 TD performance. Milton added 52 yards rushing and 1 rushing TD. “I felt great. I was comfortable. I didn’t panic as a first start. Like, I wasn’t scared,” Milton said.

Milton looked like a quarterback very comfortable with his teammates and the offensive gameplan. “We were seeing everything that they were trying to give us,” Milton said. “Once we seen those (defensive looks), we knew what we wanted to do with the play and it was my job to execute and play the right way.”

Head coach Jim Harbaugh said Milton was cool as a cucumber, ran the ball with authority, played “great, took care of the football, and showed a real command of the offense. Milton’s arm strength was on display, as was something he’s improved a lot on, his touch on passes, something that Jim Harbaugh has pointed out recently. When asked about how his touch throws were tonight, Milton gave a glowing analysis of his prowess. “My touch tonight was pretty outstanding, Milton said. “I was pretty impressed with myself. I’ve been working on that a long time.”

Milton’s career at Michigan is just getting started, but he showed promise during his first start and will look to keep things rolling right along when Michigan takes on Michigan state next Saturday.