One thing that could crush Hendon Hooker's Heisman campaign
Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker is currently one of the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy. But with five games remaining in the regular season, the battle for the Heisman is far from over. Through seven games, Hooker has 2,093 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and one interception. He also has 315 rushing yards and three rushing […]
Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker is currently one of the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy.
But with five games remaining in the regular season, the battle for the Heisman is far from over.
Through seven games, Hooker has 2,093 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and one interception. He also has 315 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Hooker is currently on pace for 3,887 passing yards, 33 passing touchdowns, 585 rushing yards, and six rushing touchdowns (13-game pace, though Tennessee could certainly end up playing 14 or 15 games).
Those are good numbers from Hooker. But those numbers won't make him the runaway favorite to win the Heisman.
A few more touchdowns would be beneficial for Hooker. And he'd have several more passing touchdowns if not for numerous passing plays that have fallen just a yard or two short of the end zone (and then ended up being rushing touchdowns for the Vols instead of passing touchdowns).
Tennessee has 12 non-Hendon Hooker rushing touchdowns (with Hooker in the game) of less than three yards this season. Many of those touchdowns were set up by Hooker passes that came up just short of the end zone.
If just half of those touchdowns were passing touchdowns, then Hooker's pace for the season would change from 33 passing touchdowns to 45 passing touchdowns.
45 touchdowns look a lot better than 33 touchdowns. And with several other legitimate Heisman contenders in the mix — Ohio State's CJ Stroud and Alabama's Bryce Young — those missed passing touchdowns could be the difference in Hooker winning the award or him hugging Stroud or Young as they win the award.
Hooker has time to make up the difference. And ultimately, the Vols need to get to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game or they need to make the College Football Playoff for Hooker to win the award.
The fact this conversation is even happening has to be amazing for Tennessee fans. It's been a long time since the Vols have received this type of national attention for positive reasons.
Of course, Hooker's focus is on winning a national championship. And there's no doubt that Tennessee fans are focused on that goal, too. But seeing a Vols player win a Heisman for the first time would be the cherry on top of what's been a special season so far.
Featured image via Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
