Getting Josh Heupel to make a definitive statement about his quarterback room has been like trying to pull teeth this season.
However, after Hendon Hooker totaled 305 yards of offense and four touchdowns in Tennessee’s blowout win at Missouri, Heupel finally named the Virginia Tech transfer his starting quarterback.
The Vols’ quarterback depth chart listed Hooker as the starter Monday and Tennessee’s first year head coach offered some insight about what the senior is doing well.
“I think as much as anything, great comfort and understanding what we’re doing, the tempo,” Heupel said of Hooker. “He has been really in control of what’s going on at the line of scrimmage, been really good with his eyes and that’s allowed him to be really decisive with the football. He was extremely accurate the other day. A lot of them stems from eyes in the right place. Seeing things really clearly and allows you to get your body in the right spot.”
Hooker’s comfort level has clearly increased since getting thrown into the fire in the second quarter against Pitt. The senior showed talent against the ACC foe, helping spark Tennessee’s offense in a second half comeback.
Still, there were plenty of mistakes from the transfer. Hooker turned the ball over twice against the Panthers, including a costly interception in the fourth quarter.
In his first two games earning serious playing time for Tennessee, Hooker turned it over three times. In the two games since— both SEC games— Hooker hasn’t turned it over.
“I think Hendon’s done a great job,” senior receiver Cedric Tillman said. “I think you can see that each game he’s played in he’s gotten more comfortable with the offense and more comfortable with the receivers and everybody else on the offense. I just think he’s done a good job passing the ball and running the ball too. He’s a leader so we’re just following his lead. Hopefully he continues to do good.”
That growing comfort level has shown on the field where Hooker has increased his passing yardage totals in every game he’s played in.
For Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh, Hooker’s demeanor and toughness is standing out and leading to strong play on the field.
“I thought through spring and through camp there was a calm demeanor about him,” Golesh said. “There was a sense of connectedness, a sense of maturity. Good or bad, whatever happened the response was always the same. It’s really exactly what you want from a player.”
Hooker’s calm demeanor isn’t hard to notice. The Virginia Tech transfer isn’t going to give the media any juicy quotes but there isn’t a disinterest or arrogance in how Hooker speaks to the media. The veteran quarterback is just quiet and humble.
After leading Tennessee to its highest point total in a conference game since 2016, Hooker didn’t care to make his case for why he should be the Vols’ starter, just saying he’s “here to help my team win ball games, however that may be.”
The 62-point, four touchdown performance wasn’t Hooker’s favorite football game either.
“Playing football, every game is my favorite game,” Hooker said. “I’m truly blessed to be out there playing.”
The Vols hope that sentiment proves true over the offseason. Despite being a senior, Hooker has one more year of eligibility due to NCAA COVD-19 eligibility relief.
Back on the field, Hooker is a physical and fearless runner. That ability shows up behind an inconsistent offensive line where Hooker has totaled 216 yards and two touchdowns this season.
“He has really, really been efficient in how he’s played,” Golesh said. “He’s been able to hand the ball off when he’s supposed to, able to throw the ball when he’s supposed to. He’s given us a really good element in the run game in terms of him being able to run the ball. What you didn’t know through spring and summer— because they’re in a red jersey and you can’t hit them— is how tough he is. He is a certifiable dude in terms of toughness. He runs the ball extremely hard, sometimes if you ask Joey (Halzle) he needs to be smarter in how he finishes runs. … He brings a spark and the way that he plays, everyone else around him sees that and they feed off of him.”
Hooker enters Tennessee’s SEC home opener having totaled 1,054 yards, 10 total touchdowns and three turnovers. The dual threat quarterback has clearly earned the starting job and has looked far better than any of Tennessee’s other quarterbacks.
It’s hard not to wonder “what if” Hooker had started since the beginning of the season and wasn’t coming in cold off the bench against Pitt. The Vols could potentially be 5-1 and off to their best start since 2016.
Still, Hooker’s emergence as a reliable, cool and efficient quarterback is a game changer for Tennessee’s offense. One that makes the Vols overachieving the rest of the season plausible.
