Not really true that HB is the 3rd best QB we have. The coaches decided in the spring that he needed a development year-- which he didn't get last year. Salter would've had the same. Milton and Hooker are more experienced and have shown they can scramble behind an OL without much depth. If UT felt good about OL depth, Cade would be at G. Calbert's injury and no better option means UT is already at Plan B and got a glimpse of Plan C when Carvin shifted and Lane came in.
Milton was what he has been in practice-- strong arm, inconsistent, not always accurate, but showing flashes of what everyone hopes he can be. It wasn't the best-case scenario or the other QBs would have gotten more PT. But getting Milton comfortable and letting him work through some things in a game that was never in jeopardy should help going forward. All the QBs have plenty to work on to get them where UT needs them to be for SEC play.