It's hard to imagine anyone other than Hendon Hooker starting at quarterback for the Tennessee Vols in 2022.

Hooker had an incredible season for the Vols in 2021, passing for nearly 3,000 yards in just 11 starts while throwing 31 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

After last season, the former Virginia Tech quarterback is the undisputed leader of Tennessee's offense.

Hooker leading the offense, however, wasn't the plan at the start of the 2021 season.

Former Michigan quarterback Joe Milton won the starting job last fall, thanks to his dazzling arm strength and strong performance during UT's fall camp.

Milton looks the part of an NFL quarterback. He's as physically talented as any quarterback who's ever played for the Vols.

But when the lights came on last fall, Tennessee quickly realized that Milton wasn't the guy.

Milton led the Vols to a win in the season-opener against Bowling Green, but the offense didn't run as efficiently as a typical Josh Heupel offense.

When Milton got off to a tough start against Pittsburgh (and suffered an injury), the Vols turned to Hooker, who took hold of the starting job and never looked back.

Hooker was ready when his number was called. That's because he never hung his head after Milton won the job.

In fact, when Hooker lost the job, he turned into an even better leader for Tennessee.

Vols offensive coordinator Alex Golesh told The Athletic this week that there were times last year when some of Tennessee's players expressed doubt that UT's new offensive system under Heupel would work in the SEC.

It was understandable — Tennessee's players had been through a lot by that point. Several had played under Butch Jones and Jeremy Pruitt and experienced some toxic environments. It was fair that some players wondered if the Vols would ever get it right.

To Golesh's surprise, Hooker flushed out the negative talk by imploring his teammates to believe in the system. Hooker ensured his teammates that if they bought into Heupel's offense, they'd find success.

From The Athletic:

When Golesh spoke to the veterans, they told him one particular player had worked to calm his teammates through the preseason. This player had told his teammates to trust the coaches, to trust the process. If they did, the player told them, Tennessee’s offense could light up the scoreboard.

When Golesh learned the identity of the player, he couldn’t believe it. Hendon Hooker? The quarterback who transferred from Virginia Tech to play for the staff that got fired days before that staff got fired? The guy who the new staff had recruited over by bringing in Michigan transfer Joe Milton III? The guy who didn’t win the starting QB job?

That story from Golesh shows exactly what type of person Hooker is.

A lot of quarterbacks would've sulked if they lost the job. Some would've hit the transfer portal…again. Most wouldn't respond like Hooker.

That offseason moment from Hooker shows his maturity. It shows his elite leadership abilities. And it sends a message to other players on the roster: Just because you don't win the starting job at your position, doesn't mean you won't be an important part of this team's success.

Hooker is special. His ability on the field is one thing, but what really sets him apart is the attitude that he approaches each day with.

There isn't much that Tennessee fans should thank Pruitt for, but rescuing Hooker from the transfer portal and bringing him to Knoxville is one thing that Pruitt got right.

Featured image via USA TODAY Sports