Josh Heupel and Hendon Hooker share emotional moment after Tennessee's win against South Carolina

Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker was at Neyland Stadium on Saturday night for UT's 41-20 win against the South Carolina Gamecocks.  Hooker was able to attend the game because the Detroit Lions, the team that drafted Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft earlier this spring, played on Thursday Night Football […]

Zach Ragan Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker was at Neyland Stadium on Saturday night for UT's 41-20 win against the South Carolina Gamecocks. 

Hooker was able to attend the game because the Detroit Lions, the team that drafted Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft earlier this spring, played on Thursday Night Football last week. 

After Tennessee's win, Hooker and Vols head coach Josh Heupel shared a moment (and a hug) before heading to UT's locker room. 

Here's the moment which was captured by On3's J.D. Pickell. 

Hooker tore his ACL via a non-contact injury in Tennessee's loss to South Carolina last season, ending his career at Tennessee. 

What Heupel and Hooker accomplished together last season, along with the rest of Tennessee's roster was incredible — especially just two years after a recruiting scandal rocked the program. 

The fact that Heupel and Hooker were able to share that moment in a game that was undoubtedly important to both of them was certainly special.