Earlier this week, Hendon Hooker wasn’t named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Hooker’s lack of postseason award recognition continued Thursday when USC’s Caleb Williams beat out Hooker for the Maxwell Award.
The Maxwell Award goes to the top college football player every season and Hooker was one of the three finalist. Hooker wasn’t one of the three finalist for the Davey O’Brian Award, though. TCU’s Max Duggan won the award as the nation’s top quarterback.
Hooker had a massive super senior season at Tennessee, throwing for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing for 430 yards and four more touchdowns in just shy of 11 games. The former Virginia Tech transfer delivered in big games, leading the Vols to wins over Alabama, Florida and LSU.
Williams was a transfer himself, following coach Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma to USC. The duo led USC back to the Pac 12 Championship game where they fell to Utah. Williams threw for 4,075 yards, 37 touchdowns and four interceptions while rushing for 372 yards and 10 touchdowns.
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Duggan led TCU to a 12-1 record and birth in the College Football Playoffs. In 13 games, Duggan threw for 3,321 yards, 30 touchdowns and four interceptions. The senior added 404 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Both Williams and Duggan are Heisman Finalists as well as Georgia’s Stetson Bennett and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud.
While Hooker’s strong play on the field this season didn’t lead to postseason awards, it did lead to postseason honors. Both the SEC’s coaches and media voted Hooker as the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and the First Team All-SEC quarterback.
Junior receiver Jalin Hyatt joined Hooker on the All-SEC First Teams and his success led to postseason award success. Hyatt beat out start Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. for the Biletnikoff Award— which honors the nation’s top receiver.
Tennessee returns to the field on Dec. 30 in the Capital One Orange Bowl. The No. 6 Vols face No. 7 Clemson in the final game of a breakout 2022 season.
