Talkin’ season is here.
Nashville is hosting the 2023 SEC Media Days this week at the Grand Hyatt, as football season is officially right around the corner.
Even though former Tennessee football quarterback Hendon Hooker has moved on from college football, he was in Nashville on Monday morning at SEC Media Days on behalf of his partnership with Bush’s Baked Beans.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Hooker for an exclusive interview at the Grand Hyatt. Hooker talked about many things, most notably his thoughts on Joe Milton’s potential for this season, predictions for Tennessee football in 2023, rehab process, goals in for his rookie season and his partnership with Bush’s.
The full transcript from my one-on-one interview with Hooker is below. The interview audio will drop on Rocky Top Insider’s podcast platforms soon.
How the offseason has been treating him:
“It’s been going well. Offseason has been good, being able to just rehab and stack days, get back to a better me.”
On what it’s like coming back to SEC Media Days having moved on from college football:
“It’s still amazing. I mean it’s only right. I was the SEC Player of the Year last year, so being able to come back here and speak on behalf of Bush’s Baked Beans and see some familiar faces has been cool.”
On his partnership with Bush’s:
“It’s been amazing, especially with them being based out of Knoxville, and me just loving Knoxville and all. It’s been cool. The family has a secret recipe that we use at different functions and events, and we will continue to do that.”
On his love for baked beans:
“I wouldn’t say my favorite food, but it’s a great side and a great additive, especially Bush’s.”
On when he knew Tennessee was capable of doing something special last year:
“We knew in the summer. When we had our first player-led drills, seeing everybody communicate at a high level on defense and then the offense clicking, we’re still going to dominate the defense, regardless, but just going out there… And you really only have two sets of four plays, so within those two sets you could see everyone moving around and the chemistry being there. So I knew we were going to be nice from that day on.”
On how Joe Milton has grown and if he’s ready to take a next step this year:
“He’s ready. And he’s been ready. I think just both of us competing at a high level and pushing each other and taking different tools from each other’s game and implementing those is very special. He picks my brain a lot and he works very hard, so I’m excited for him this year.”
On how Coach Heupel helped Milton these past two seasons:
“Just Coach Heup being a quarterback-specific coach, playing the position before, he gives us great insight and great tools to be successful.”
On what Tennessee is capable of in the near future:
“They’re capable of winning the National Championship, and Joe [Milton] will go on to win the Heisman, so I’m looking forward to them going out and dominating this year, really putting on a show every Saturday.”
Joe for Heisman?
“Yeah, for sure. He’s the best quarterback in the nation, hands down.”
On how the rehab process has made him stronger mentally and physically:
“Just mentally, another stage of adversity, just keeping faith in God and in prayer, and then continuing to work and stack days. Just through the process, a regular workout that might seem strenuous is very easy compared to me having this knee. I just still look at rehabbing my knee as another workout and getting back to a better me.”
On watching the draft was like for him:
“I was just chilling, honestly. I was just hanging out with my friends and family, laughing and having a good time. Once I got the call, I was ready to rock n’ roll, ready to get to work and get that playbook.”
On his goals for his rookie season:
“First, to make sure my leg is 100 percent healthy, and then to continue to soak up as much information as I can. JG is a great vet to be around, as well as Nate Sudfeld. Adrian Martinez and I are just trying to continue to take information from them and implement it on the field. And the staff is great, and the team camaraderie in the locker room is great, as well.”
On Lions HC Dan Campbell’s personality:
“His personality is very electric. Some of the side jokes and stuff that you would have with your buddies, he has in the team meeting. It’s always a good feeling to be around him, and he wants to make sure that everyone is still learning and we all have that one goal in mind of winning ball games. Him bringing that competitive nature out, and playful nature as well, it’s just a great environment.”
On if the popular Campbell phrase ‘kneecap biting’ has ever come up in practice:
“That’s just a press conference thing.”
On the transition from a Heupel offense to an NFL traditional offense:
“It’s been good. Football is football. It’s just going to be a different language for every team. They’ll call it something else, we call it an out, you call it a dig, but it’s not a dig, it’s just an out, though. It’s football. Transitioning to taking more control, but also I had control at Tennessee, so not too much, not too much difference as far as orchestrating the offense, just going out there and being a ball player.”
On how the Heupel system helped prepare him for the NFL game:
“Yeah, for sure. As far as feeling space and having full control of the offense and making calls at the line of scrimmage, a lot of people don’t know that, we do. We have full control, we’re checking at the line, we’re changing protections, doing everything that you would want in a quarterback.”
On the biggest transition as a whole from college athlete to professional:
“I haven’t taken any snaps, or done anything competitively, or even been on the field really throwing with my guys like you would want to, but the biggest thing is going to be making decisions at a quicker pace. I think when people talk about the speed of the game, it comes down to the mental aspect, not the physical. Because guys are flying around wherever you go. So being able to get in there and process things at a fast pace and eliminate things at a fast pace as well.”
On what his emotions will be like when he returns to the field:
“I think I’m just going to be super excited, super hyped. I’m going to have to calm myself down. I definitely miss playing, miss competing, and miss moving around like I want to. So, I’m excited.”
His prediction for Tennessee this season:
“SEC Championship. National Championship.”
