Lions QB coach offers early impression of rookie QB Hendon Hooker
Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker, a third-round selection by the Detroit Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft, is continuing to work his way back from the torn ACL he suffered last November. Hooker hasn't been fully cleared to participate in minicamps/OTAs, but he's progressed to throwing routes to receivers. Despite Hooker's limitations, he's already […]
Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker, a third-round selection by the Detroit Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft, is continuing to work his way back from the torn ACL he suffered last November.
Hooker hasn't been fully cleared to participate in minicamps/OTAs, but he's progressed to throwing routes to receivers.
Despite Hooker's limitations, he's already impressing Lions quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell, a former NFL standout who reached three Pro Bowls in the late 90s while playing with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"Great work ethic. If he didn't, he wouldn't be here," said Brunell this week when asked about Hooker. "He's a smart player. He's put the time in. Obviously, he's limited right now. Most important is him getting strong and healthy. I'm really pleased with him, as far as the meetings are concerned."
"We throw a bunch of questions at those rookies and try to put them in a tough spot," added Brunell. "And, he always does a very good job. And, it's very, very clear that he's putting the time in. Which is really, it's the mental side of it is really all he can do right now, as far as football is concerned. But, he's done well."
Brunell doesn't know for sure how Hooker's work ethic and intelligence will translate on the field, but he feels optimistic about the former Vol’s ability to excel in the NFL.
"There's some guys that do very well in the classroom, but yet it doesn't translate on the field," explained Brunell. "We don't expect him to be that at all because we've seen him play in college at a very high level. We can't wait to get him on the field. Right now, he's doing everything that we're asking him to do, and he's doing it quite well."
Hooker obviously still has a lot to prove in the NFL — he hasn't even gone through a full practice yet as a participant — but so far, he's doing all the right things off the field. And that can be half the battle when it comes to being a great NFL quarterback.
Of course, it's not like Tennessee fans will be surprised to hear this. Hooker was a tremendous leader with a work ethic second to none during his time with the Vols.
Josh Heupel delivers great quote about sitting beside Josh Dobbs’ dad at Vols basketball game
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel spent some time with another famous Vol named Josh this past week in Knoxville. Heupel attended the basketball game between Tennessee and Alabama last week and he ended up sitting beside former Vols quarterback Josh Dobbs. Dobbs' dad, Robert, was also at the game and he had a funny […]
Featured image via Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
