Former Vols QB Hendon Hooker names his top 5 QBs of all time
Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker is eager to hit the field and start practicing (without restriction) for the Detroit Lions. Hooker, who was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Lions, is still recovering from the torn ACL he suffered last November in Tennessee's loss to South Carolina. "ACL's […]
Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker is eager to hit the field and start practicing (without restriction) for the Detroit Lions.
Hooker, who was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Lions, is still recovering from the torn ACL he suffered last November in Tennessee's loss to South Carolina.
"ACL's doing good. Just taking it day by day, and just continuing to chip away and stack days," said Hooker on Friday during an appearance on NFL Network's Good Morning Football. "I think one thing that I know for sure is that physically and mentally I've become a lot stronger through this process. But we don't know when the day will come where I'm 100%. But when it does come, it'll be a heartfelt moment for me, I know for sure, because of how much I miss the game and how much I miss competing."
Hooker has high expectations for his NFL career — he plans to be an all-time great.
But for now, Hooker has to remain patient while he rehabs his knee. Once that's behind him, he can focus on his goal of becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the game.
Speaking of all-time greats, Hooker was recently asked by "The Spun" to list his top five NFL quarterbacks of all time.
The Greensboro, NC native listed two active quarterbacks and three retired quarterbacks among his top five.
"I’ll go Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, and Doug Williams," said Hooker.
Each quarterback that Hooker listed won at least one Super Bowl and was named a Super Bowl MVP at least once.
It's certainly no surprise that Hooker included Manning, a fellow former Vol, on his list. Hooker and Manning have forged a tight bond over the past two years,
"Peyton and I are really close," explained Hooker. "We talked every week from the summer to game time. He came to a lot of our games as well. He’d ask us what we’re trying to accomplish and what’s the defense showing us. Our relationship is very special. Him being an all-time great quarterback in the NFL and in college – I want to follow in his footsteps."
Hooker has the right mindset to be an all-time great. Now he just has to prove it on Sundays. Once his knee is healthy, it won't be long before Hooker is pushing starting quarterback Jared Goff for playing time in Detroit.
