There's been a lot of talk in recent weeks about Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker and his NFL future.

Some folks seem to think that Hooker is a product of Josh Heupel's system and shouldn't be a day one or day two NFL Draft selection.

Shrine Bowl director Eric Galko, however, has a very different view of Hooker.

Galko thinks Hooker could/should be a first-round selection. He told Pro Football Network this week that he thinks Hooker could be a reliable starting quarterback for an NFL team.

“It’s hard for me to imagine a team not saying ‘this guy has starting-level ability in the NFL,'” said Galko. “We can debate — and teams will debate — does he have special traits? Or is he one of those nebulous guys where, we like him a lot, but he’s not an elite talent? We can all hash that out, but I think it’s time to start framing Hooker as a guy who can start and be a good starter in the NFL. To me, that sounds like a first-round pick. But I think for NFL teams — and justifiably so — are his traits enough to match how efficient and how accurate he’s been?”

“I think sometimes we don’t appreciate that pre-snap reads can factor into one-read offenses,” added Galko. “Hendon is recognizing things pre-snap. It’s not a matter of putting a blindfold on, saying hike, taking it off, and throwing it where it’s supposed to go. It is more than that. It’s a little more formulaic."

“It’s also important to keep in mind too, they are 4-0," continued Galko. "They’ve won games with Hendon throwing the ball a lot and scoring touchdowns through the air. We talked about (Kentucky QB) Will Levis a couple weeks ago. Just win the game, keep staying a top team — it’s hard to argue with guys who keep winning because of their success and lack of mistakes. Very few QBs can be as efficient as Hooker has been in this offense.”

It's interesting that Galko brings up Levis, who played poorly in Kentucky's loss to Ole Miss on Saturday.

Levis may have some great physical traits, but does he come through when it counts?

The answer on Saturday was no. Meanwhile, the answer for Hooker so far has been yes.

Ultimately, it's all about winning. And Hooker has proven he's a winner.

Hooker took an unconventional approach to becoming an NFL draft prospect, and I think that's partially why some folks aren't as high on him. But there's no denying what he's accomplished during his short time at Tennessee.

And because of what he's accomplished, it sounds like he might be an early-round draft selection (as long as teams agree with Galko).

Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK