Vols OC Joey Halzle is responsible for the trait the Lions like the most about Hendon Hooker
Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker was selected by the Detroit Lions with the No. 68 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. One of the big reasons why the Lions drafted Hooker is because of how he plays the game. Specifically, Detroit liked how aggressively Hooker played in 2022 with the Vols. "Regardless of what […]
Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker was selected by the Detroit Lions with the No. 68 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
One of the big reasons why the Lions drafted Hooker is because of how he plays the game. Specifically, Detroit liked how aggressively Hooker played in 2022 with the Vols.
"Regardless of what offense he was running, it was just the way that he was playing," said Lions general manager Brad Holmes after Hooker was drafted. "It was just how fast he was playing, how aggressive he was playing, how aggressive he was in the passing, how aggressive he was as a runner, just the way that he was finishing plays in both phases."
"He has all the physical traits with size, athletic ability, throwing, and all that stuff," added Holmes. "That's only a fraction of it in terms of the physical traits. He's got the intangible qualities for the position."
The aggressiveness and having fun while playing football — the "let it rip" mentality — is something that comes directly from Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle and the Vols' offensive staff (including, obviously, head coach Josh Heupel).
When Halzle arrived in Knoxville in early 2021, he immediately made it clear that Tennessee's quarterbacks would be free to be aggressive in their approach during games.
"We’re going to let you rip it all over the field," said Halzle after he was hired at Tennessee. "We’re going to put a lot on you and, to me, I would say that is quarterback-friendly because we’re not going to hold your hands. We’re going to teach you, we’re going to mold you into the best that you can be, and then we’re going to turn you loose to go play ball on Saturdays. We don’t make guys play scared. We don’t make them afraid to make mistakes. Go out there, cut it loose."
Playing loose isn't something that necessarily came naturally to Hooker. Halzle and the Vols' coaching staff had to help him get to that point.
Halzle told reporters ahead of the 2022 season that Hooker was too serious and too business-like when the quarterback first arrived at Tennessee. Hooker essentially wasn't having fun, which meant he wasn't as aggressive as the Vols wanted him to be.
"When we first got here, I watched every clip that every quarterback that was on campus had from game film," said Halzle before the start of the 2022 season.
"Hendon was a guy who was way too far in the business model, meaning that nothing was fun," added Halzle. "Everything was serious. That wasn't his best way to play. For some guys it is. It is not for him. We had to spend a long time working on having him really just enjoy the game while working hard. Working hard doesn't mean serious all of the time, though. He is fun. He is enjoying himself and enjoying his time out on the field. That is what has allowed his talent to now take over again. He's not tightening himself up with his own mind."
If Halzle doesn't help Hooker change his mindset, who knows how the 2022 season goes for Tennessee. A big reason why Hooker was so successful in 2022 is because he made quick decisions without hesitation. He played loose and free and that translated to big results for himself and the Vols' offense.
Hooker is in the NFL because of his talent and hard work. But the coaching he received from Halzle and the rest of the Vols' staff played a big role, too. And that should certainly be attractive to elite high school quarterback recruits that are deciding where they want to play college football.
