Falling Star: Hendon Hooker

It is that time of year when the the quarterbacks are in the spotlight.

Some players are fighting for draft position, while others will never set foot on the field again.

Hendon Hooker is the Tennessee Volunteers’ quarterback who was in the running for the Heisman Trophy.

He stands 6’4”- 218 pounds and according to nflmockdraftdatabase.com, he was the consensus 30th ranked player in 2023. Eric Edholm (nfl.com) had him as a possible top-50 draft choice.

However, Hooker chances at the Heisman were dashed, along with that draft status, with a loss to Georgia (11/5), and then by tearing his ACL against South Carolina (11/19).

The ACL was a non-contact injury and it ended his six-year college career.

Hooker’s background

Hooker is a redshirt senior, who was in the last year of his eligibility. Prior to playing for the Volunteers, he spent four years at Virginia Tech before transferring in 2021. This January, he will be 25-years-old prior to the draft, which makes him the oldest quarterback prospect I have evaluated. These are huge concerns for his draft status.

Hooker, however, is a high character prospect. He and his brother, Alston, authored a Christian children’s book, The ABC’s of Scripture For Athletes, written in comic book form. He believes in influencing children and the next generations with the word of Jesus Christ and his goal is to be “A positive influence in the lives of kids in his community.”

Does Hooker check all the boxes?

Bill Parcells, the Hall of Fame Coach of the New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys, had a specific set of standards when drafting a quarterback.

1. Be a three year starter ✓

2. Be a senior in college ✓

3. Have graduated college ✓

4. Have started 30 games ✓

5. Have won 23 games ☓

6. Have a 2:1 TD to INT ratio ✓

7. Complete 60% of their passes ✓

Hooker only violates one of Parcells’ rules. He won 22 games of the 23 required, and missed it by one. That last game he played is when the upstart South Carolina Gamecocks, led by quarterback Spencer Rattler, dismantled his No. 5 ranked Volunteers, which ended their shot at a National Championship.

What does the game film say?

Let’s hit the film.

When Hooker is on the field, there are echos of former Heisman winner, Cam Newton. However, he does not possess Newton’s size or talent. He does not have the boom.

Tennessee’s Head Coach, Josh Heupel, runs a fast-tempo offense, with shades of the Air-Raid offense that the University of Oklahoma employs. Hooker’s stats are drastically inflated because of this. He is a textbook product of the system.

Hooker is predictable with his lower-body mechanics and footwork. Right before he decides to pass the ball, he stops moving his feet. When he decides to take-off scrambling, his feet get more active. These are obvious telltale signs, which will not fly with the speed of the NFL.

Running is a problem with him because he needs to learn how to slide. He can and will get pounded at the next level. I have already mentioned Newton, and we all know how his career essentially ended.

Hooker’s mobility concerns me.

However, he is a polished passer with decent arm strength who had some excellent touch on his passes. He can get the ball downfield.

Turnovers have never been a problem.

Since 2019, playing in 45 games for these two schools, he only threw 12 interceptions.

Turnovers are one of the most underrated statistics.

I predict Hooker will be a career backup in the NFL, who will get an opportunity to compete. I just don’t think he is capable of much more.

My BIG three questions…

1. How will his style of play and athleticism translate to the NFL?
2. How will his body hold up, and what is his timeline with the torn ACL?
3. Will he be able to overcome the adversity he is facing? Will it affect his confidence?

How Hooker stacks up and game film reviewed:

Draft projection: Fourth-Fifth Round

Pro-comparison: Jacoby Brissett

Tennessee Game film evaluated:

Ole Miss ’21

Alabama ’22

South Carolina ’22

The author, William Yanish, has been a football fan since he was knee high to a grasshopper. He played football until his body wouldn’t let him any longer at the tender young age of 17. He is an aspiring sports writer and author, who covers the NFL Draft for firstroundmock.com. Yanish attended Colorado Mesa University on the western slope of Colorado.