NFL analyst takes jab at Tennessee, Josh Heupel following Hendon Hooker’s release
By Luke Greco
Published:
NFL analyst Ted Nguyen took a jab at Tennessee’s development of offensive skill players following the news of Hendon Hooker’s release from the Detroit Lions on Monday.
“That Tennessee offense puts skill players in a developmental hole,” Nguyen wrote on social media.
Nguyen, an NFL staff writer for The Athletic, didn’t back down on his claims after Tennessee fans flooded his replies. He posted this reply to his previous post on X:
Tennessee fans seem shocked by this but the offense has the QB waiting for an isolated receiver to run a deep choice route. Extremely productive in college with the right talent. Doesn’t translate the pros.
Hooker was the Tennessee quarterback for two seasons. In his first year, he threw for 2,945 yards with 31 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He followed that year up by throwing for 3,135 yards with 27 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. Most draft boards had Hooker projected to be a late first-round or early second-round pick; however, the Lions selected Hooker in the third round in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Under Josh Heupel, the Tennessee offense was dominant in its early years, setting multiple program records and leading the FBS in scoring in 2022. More recently, the offense has cooled off, ranking 23rd in offensive SP+ in 2024.
Tennessee will open the 2025 season against Syracuse on Aug. 30.
