Tennessee Vols: Josh Heupel believes Hendon Hooker still has a lot of room to grow
Quarterback Hendon Hooker was a revelation for the Tennessee Vols in 2021. Hooker started the season as Tennessee's No. 2 quarterback, but he was pressed into action when starter Joe Milton was injured in the Vols' loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers in week two. And he never looked back. Hooker led the Vols to the […]
Quarterback Hendon Hooker was a revelation for the Tennessee Vols in 2021.
Hooker started the season as Tennessee's No. 2 quarterback, but he was pressed into action when starter Joe Milton was injured in the Vols' loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers in week two.
And he never looked back.
Hooker led the Vols to the program's best offensive season since 1993 (when Tennessee averaged 40.3 points per game…UT averaged 38.8 points per game in 2021).
As a result of his strong 2021 season, Hooker was listed on several NFL draft boards as a potential mid to late-round selection. Hooker, however, announced recently that he's planning to return to Tennessee for his final season of eligibility.
One of the reasons Hooker is returning is to continue to improve his game. He feels like he can still get better.
Vols head coach Josh Heupel agrees.
"(He's a) great leader and I just believe that he is still becoming the best version of himself as a player," said Heupel of Hooker this week. "(He) has an opportunity to change some things fundamentally, continue to grow. Last year, you're so worried about getting your scheme in that, some of the global view things, you don't get a chance to touch on in year one. We'll be able to do that with him and really excited to have him."
"Obviously, the way that he's played, you look at it like a football game, each quarter of the season he's continued to get better and better," added Heupel. "That speaks to what he (will be) able to do next year, too."
With Hooker more comfortable in Heupel's scheme next season, I wouldn't be surprised if we see some Tennessee records broken.
Additionally, if Hooker improves from last season — and the expectation certainly is that he will — then it's fair to say that he'll be a legitimate contender for the 2022 Heisman Trophy.
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports/Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
