ESPN slights Tennessee Vols QB Hendon Hooker in latest rankings

The Tennessee Vols' quarterback situation entering the 2022 season is as settled as it's been since Josh Dobbs was in town in the mid-2010s. Redshirt senior Hendon Hooker is entrenched as the Vols' starting quarterback after a 2021 season that saw the Greensboro, NC native pass for 31 touchdowns against only three interceptions. Tennessee fans […]

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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The Tennessee Vols' quarterback situation entering the 2022 season is as settled as it's been since Josh Dobbs was in town in the mid-2010s.

Redshirt senior Hendon Hooker is entrenched as the Vols' starting quarterback after a 2021 season that saw the Greensboro, NC native pass for 31 touchdowns against only three interceptions.

Tennessee fans are fully aware of how good Hooker can be for the Vols. But how is UT's quarterback situation viewed by the rest of the country?

ESPN recently ranked all 131 quarterback situations in college football and they have Tennessee's situation ranked in the third tier.

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) runs the ball during an SEC football homecoming game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. Tennesseegeorgia1113 1331
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) runs the ball during an SEC football homecoming game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.

I'm not sure this is a fair ranking.

While I don't think Tennessee's quarterback situation should be in tier one, I don't think it's far behind.

Here's the list of situations ESPN ranked ahead of the Vols':

  • Ohio State
  • Alabama
  • USC
  • NC State
  • Utah
  • Miami
  • Georgia

I'm not sure how a player like Utah's Cam Rising, or even Georgia's Stetson Bennett, can be placed above Hooker.

Tennessee's quarterback put up better numbers than both of those players in 2021. And in Bennett's case, he was surrounded by significantly better talent. All things equal, Hooker is easily the better quarterback.

I think this is a case of Tennessee getting slighted a bit simply because they're Tennessee. If Hooker played at another program, he'd probably get a little more love from ESPN.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter what ESPN thinks. All that matters are the results on the field. And I think we'll see some positive results from Hooker and the Vols this fall.

Featured image via Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

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