Tennessee Vols redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker is a popular darkhorse Heisman Trophy candidate this offseason thanks to his strong performance in 2021.

Hooker didn't start Tennessee's first two games of the 2021 season, but he still put up impressive numbers. The Greensboro, NC native passed for 2,945 yards, 31 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. Hooker also rushed for 616 yards and five touchdowns.

If Hooker starts 13 games for the Vols in 2022, he should easily surpass 4,000 total yards. In fact, he could have a shot at 5,000 total yards if everything goes right for Tennessee's offense this upcoming season.

Those kinds of numbers would likely put Hooker right in the middle of the Heisman conversation.

There's one other thing, however, that will also need to happen for Hooker to be a Heisman finalist.

Great answer from Hendon Hooker on being a potential Heisman candidate pic.twitter.com/45Pb4mOMHV

— zach ragan (@zachTNT) April 7, 2022

College football analyst Josh Pate suggested recently that Tennessee needs to go at least 9-3 for Hooker to seriously get in the Heisman conversation.

"Here’s what would have to happen for Hendon Hooker to be a Heisman Trophy finalist: (Tennessee) would probably have to start out 4-0, which is doable," said Pate. "They have a trip to Pitt and they’ve got a home date with Florida. Those are two games where they may be slight dogs, but they won’t be overwhelming underdogs."

"If they can win those two games, they go to LSU at 4-0. From that point, you’ve got a lot more attention on the program than you would’ve had. And thus a lot more attention on Hendon Hooker who, if you’re 4-0, has probably played pretty well."

"Then what they have to do is they have to go 9-3 or better for the season," added Pate. "And in the games they lose, it better be to Alabama and Georgia, teams like that. And they have to shine in trail mode. Meaning if they’re trailing Alabama 34-17, Hendon Hooker needs to be throwing the ball in catchup mode. And they need to be putting up big statistical numbers even if they lose the game."

I think Pate is probably right. The Heisman Trophy isn't going to the quarterback of a 7-6 team — even if that quarterback puts up incredible numbers.

Tennessee will need to be in the spotlight (for positive reasons) for Hooker to be a legitimate Heisman candidate.

The good news for the Vols is that if Hooker is in the Heisman conversation, then UT is winning games. Tennessee's success is dependent on Hooker having success. So if he makes it to the Heisman Trophy presentation as a finalist, it almost certainly means the Vols will have won 10 games for the first time in over a decade.

Featured image via Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports