From 60 to 1 to the favorite, Hendon Hooker’s path to a Heisman candidacy
By Keith Farner
Published:
Hendon Hooker is turning in a memorable season at Tennessee, and it’s elevated him into the favorite position to win the Heisman Trophy.
Hooker leads the SEC in passing efficiency (191.6), total offense (334.5), completion percentage (71.2), yards per attempt (10.68) and yards per completion (14.99). He also leads the country in yards per attempt while ranking second in passing efficiency and seventh in total offense. Perhaps most notably, Hooker has a 21-to-1, touchdown to INT ratio.
Hooker, who this summer was a long shot to win the Heisman at +6000, is now just +100, according to FanDuel. Hooker is the favorite over CJ Stroud of Ohio State, Blake Corum of Michigan and Caleb Williams of Southern Cal.
If Hooker didn’t have a Heisman moment during the win over Alabama, look for a memorable play this week at Georgia.
In his most recent performance, Hooker led the Vols over Kentucky as he went 19-of-25 through the air with 245 yards and 3 touchdowns, including his 50th career TD at Tennessee, a 55-yard strike to Jalin Hyatt on the Vols’ opening drive.
Two weeks ago against UT-Martin, Hooker broke Heath Shuler’s record for consecutive games with a passing touchdown, his 19th straight game with a passing TD.
Against Alabama, Hooker passed for a career-high 385 yards and 5 touchdowns, which tied career high, while he made the longest pass of his collegiate career, a 78-yarder to Jalin Hyatt, who he connected with on all 5 touchdowns.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
