For the first time since the Josh Dobbs era, the Tennessee Vols will enter a season with one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC.

Greensboro, NC native Hendon Hooker didn't start the 2021 season as the Volunteers' starting quarterback, but he quickly took hold of the job early in the season. And he proved to be one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC.

Hooker, who transferred to UT after three seasons at Virginia Tech, passed for 2,945 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only three interceptions last season.

It's reasonable to expect Hooker to put up even more impressive numbers in 2022, thanks to more time in Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel's offense. Plus he'll have more starts next season (Hooker started 11 of the Vols' 13 games last season).

247Sports views Tennessee Vols QB Hendon Hooker as one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC

On Monday, 247Sports revealed their rankings for the projected starting SEC quarterbacks in 2022.

Hooker came in at No. 3 in their rankings.

Here's what they had to say about the Volunteers' starting quarterback:

Hendon Hooker does not get the respect he deserves nationally. Behind closed doors, Tennessee's coaching staff believes this guy is the key ingredient to bringing the Vols 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.

247Sports had Alabama quarterback Bryce Young at No. 1 and Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson at No. 2.

Young is the defending Heisman Trophy winner, so it makes sense that he's at No. 1. I don't think there's much debate there.

But as for Jefferson above Hooker?

That's a little more debatable. Jefferson was good in 2021, but his numbers weren't better than Hooker's numbers. Jefferson played in 13 games and passed for 2,676 yards, 21 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He rushed for 664 yards compared to Hooker's 620 yards.

I'd say advantage Hooker, but 247Sports disagrees.

We'll see who ends up being right in about 10 months.

Featured image via Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports