Comments about Vols QB Hendon Hooker should make the rest of the SEC nervous
Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker will enter the 2022 season with big expectations after a breakout year in 2021. Hooker passed up the 2022 NFL Draft for another season with the Vols. A lucrative NIL deal helped make that decision a bit easier. The former Virginia Tech signal-caller might be getting paid good money to stick […]
Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker will enter the 2022 season with big expectations after a breakout year in 2021.
Hooker passed up the 2022 NFL Draft for another season with the Vols. A lucrative NIL deal helped make that decision a bit easier.
The former Virginia Tech signal-caller might be getting paid good money to stick around at Tennessee, but he didn't return to Knoxville to collect a check.
Hooker is on a mission — and he's even more focused than he was last season.
According to Tennessee quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle, Hooker has "rededicated" himself to football this offseason.
"Hooker has completely rededicated himself," said Halzle on Wednesday after UT's practice. "He’s up there in our office all the time wanting to talk protections, wanting to talk defenses. He is up there learning from somebody the entire day."
Halzle also said that Hooker has made a "big jump" this offseason with his understanding of opposing defenses.
"He's grown to the next step of seeing the second and third reads," explained Halzle. "He's made a big jump this offseason in terms of defensive understanding, and you can tell a difference on the field."
Hooker was already viewed as the best quarterback in the SEC East just based on his play from last season.
With Hooker taking a big step forward this offseason, plus entering his second season in Josh Heupel's offense, it really means the sky is the limit for the Vols' offense in 2022.
It's easy to forget that Hooker was learning on the fly last year. He was new to Tennessee, new to Heupel's offense, and didn't even get first-team reps leading up to the season.
A full offseason with Heupel, a better understanding of the offense, and a rededicated desire to get better could lead to a memorable season from Hooker.
If everyone stays healthy, I could see Hooker receiving an invitation to the Heisman ceremony in December. I'm not under the illusion that he's anything more than a darkhorse candidate right now, but I think the potential is certainly there for Hooker to be relevant in the Heisman race.
Essentially, Hooker is going to be a nightmare for SEC opponents in 2022.
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
