Tennessee Vols: Where Athlon Sports ranks Hendon Hooker among SEC starting quarterbacks
It's officially March, which means we're fixing to start seeing a LOT of college football preseason rankings lists. One recent list is Athlon Sports' preseason rankings of SEC starting quarterbacks. And it's a list that I think Tennessee Vols fans will like. Athlon Sports has Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker ranked as the No. 2 quarterback […]
It's officially March, which means we're fixing to start seeing a LOT of college football preseason rankings lists.
One recent list is Athlon Sports' preseason rankings of SEC starting quarterbacks.
And it's a list that I think Tennessee Vols fans will like.
Athlon Sports has Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker ranked as the No. 2 quarterback in the SEC entering the 2022 season.
Hooker comes in behind Alabama's Bryce Young in Athlon Sports' rankings.
"It’s [a] tough call between Hooker, Will Rogers, and KJ Jefferson for the No. 2 spot," wrote Athlon Sports' Steve Lassan.
I've seen numerous SEC quarterback rankings lists over the last month and this is about where Hooker has been ranked in most of them — either right before or right after Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson.
Hooker put up better numbers than Jefferson in 2021, but I think some folks like Jefferson's ceiling better than Hooker's (because Jefferson is younger).
I get it. But at the same time, I don't think it's fair to assume that Hooker is close to his ceiling. Remember, Hooker has only been in Josh Heupel's system for one calendar year. The fact he was as good as he was last season is impressive, considering all the chaos on Rocky Top a year ago.
With a full year in Heupel's system under his belt, we could see Hooker blow way past the numbers he put up last year.
I think Athlon Sports nailed this ranking. And I think Hooker will prove them correct in 2022.
Featured image via Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
