Former Tennessee Vols standout named as one of the most impactful transfers during portal era
A former Tennessee Vols standout was recently named as one of the most impactful transfer players during the NCAA transfer portal era (the portal era officially started in late 2018). 247Sports named former Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker as one of the 10 most impactful transfers of the portal era. Hooker, who transferred from Virginia Tech […]
A former Tennessee Vols standout was recently named as one of the most impactful transfer players during the NCAA transfer portal era (the portal era officially started in late 2018).
247Sports named former Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker as one of the 10 most impactful transfers of the portal era.
Hooker, who transferred from Virginia Tech to Tennessee ahead of the 2021 season, was ranked as the No. 6 most impactful transfer player by 247Sports.
From 247Sports: Hendon Hooker was a key factor behind Tennessee climbing all the way to No. 1 in the country during the 2022 season. The former Virginia Tech quarterback spent two years with the Volunteers, developing into arguably one of the top quarterbacks in the country before a season-ending injury in November derailed a Heisman Trophy-caliber campaign. Hooker completed 68.9% of his passes in 24 games played at Tennessee. He totaled 6,080 yards and 58 touchdowns with only five interceptions. Hooker was unable to finish out the 2022 season, but Tennessee still reached a New Year's Six bowl for the first time in 18 years while also snapping a 15-game losing streak to rival Alabama.
The North Carolina native committed to Tennessee after the 2020 season when Jeremy Pruitt was still the program's head coach.
Hooker, however, only overlapped with Pruitt at Tennessee for about a week before the former UT head coach was fired due to a massive recruiting scandal.
"I only talked to him (Pruitt) one time. They (Pruitt's staff) were there for one week while I was there," said Hooker to Knox News last summer.
"I still love Coach Pruitt, I committed to him and his staff. And I appreciate them bringing me into a great program," added Hooker.
Regardless of how he arrived at Tennessee, there's no doubt that Hooker left his mark on the program while playing under Josh Heupel.
Hooker's impressive 2022 season helped the Vols achieve their first 11-win season in two decades. That feat alone will make Hooker a legend forever in East Tennessee.
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