247Sports details why Tennessee Vols fans should be optimistic in 2022
247Sports recently detailed reasons why each SEC team should have some optimism entering the 2022 season and their choice for the Tennessee Vols was far from surprising. Brad Crawford of 247Sports suggested this past week that quarterback Hendon Hooker is the reason Tennessee fans should be optimistic this upcoming season. From 247Sports: Ranked inside our top […]
247Sports recently detailed reasons why each SEC team should have some optimism entering the 2022 season and their choice for the Tennessee Vols was far from surprising.
Brad Crawford of 247Sports suggested this past week that quarterback Hendon Hooker is the reason Tennessee fans should be optimistic this upcoming season.
Ranked inside our top 10 quarterbacks ranking nationally this month, Hooker is a player who would start under center at 99% of FBS programs and is a difference-maker for the Volunteers. Behind closed doors, Tennessee's coaching staff believes he is the key ingredient in bringing the program back to national prominence in 2022 as a top 25 team throughout the season. He's coming off a 36-touchdown campaign after managing more than 3,500 yards of total offense as the facilitator within Josh Heupel's tempo-based scheme. If he stays healthy, Tennessee has a shot to upend several big-time opponents on the schedule if the defense is serviceable and Hooker's not playing catch-up with his fellow offensive starters.
Hooker truly was a revelation for the Vols last season. When the season started, all of the attention was directed toward Joe Milton (who won the starting job during camp) and Harrison Bailey (a former five-star recruit who eventually hit the transfer portal and landed at UNLV).
It was Hooker, however, that proved to be the Vols' best option last year.
The Greensboro, NC native, who transferred to Tennessee from Virginia Tech, took over as the Vols' starting quarterback after Milton suffered an injury in UT's loss to Pittsburgh in week two.
Hooker proceeded to have one of the best seasons ever by a Vols quarterback, throwing for 31 touchdowns against only three interceptions.
The 31 touchdowns were the third-most ever in a season by a Tennessee quarterback (tied with Erik Ainge).
Hooker's 2,945 passing yards were the 10th most ever in a season by a Vols quarterback. And his 12 consecutive games with a passing touchdown is only six behind Heath Shuler (18 consecutive games with a passing touchdown) for the all-time Tennessee record.
The Vols have a star in Hooker. And he's the reason this team has a shot to win 10 games in 2022 for the first time since the 2007 season.
Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
