Former NFL coach has powerful take on former Vols QB Hendon Hooker at the Senior Bowl
Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker is at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL this week despite his torn ACL. Hooker obviously can't participate in on-field activities, but he's been able to meet with NFL front offices and media (injured players that can't play in the game usually aren't invited, but an exception was made […]
Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker is at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL this week despite his torn ACL.
Hooker obviously can't participate in on-field activities, but he's been able to meet with NFL front offices and media (injured players that can't play in the game usually aren't invited, but an exception was made for Hooker due to his impact on college football in 2022).
Despite not being able to physically participate, Hooker has still made an impression on folks at the Senior Bowl.
In fact, Titans Radio's Dave McGinnis, a former college/NFL coach, told 104.5 The Zone's "3HL" on Wednesday that Hooker is the player that's impressed him the most in Mobile this week.
"I'll tell you who's been impressive down here, guys, is Hendon Hooker," said McGinnis. "Even though he's not playing, just what he is doing down here and his presence. Being here and the way he's interacting with people."
"And when you get around him — I had never been around the kid personally. But first of all, when you're with him, physically, that's a big long dude. He really is. And really, (Senior Bowl director) Jim Nagy did him a solid letting him come down here even though he was injured…he is doing himself a lot of good down here even though he has that brace on his knee."
Injured players usually aren't at the Senior Bowl, but Jim Nagy thought Hooker deserved a chance to meet with front offices so they could get to know the Greensboro, NC native better.
And it's not a surprise that Hooker is making the most of the opportunity.
You won't find a player in college football with better character than Hooker (current Vols quarterback Joe Milton is in that conversation, too). While some senior quarterbacks thought they could find a better use of their time and declined invitations (like Georgia's Stetson Bennett and Kentucky's Will Levis), Hooker accepted the invite, despite his injury, and made the trip to Mobile. The impressions he's making this week could prove to be invaluable when the 2023 NFL Draft gets underway in a couple of months.
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
