A lot changed for Tennessee football on Nov. 19, 2022.

The Vols walked into Columbia to play South Carolina just 2 wins away from the College Football Playoff. When the sun set in Knoxville, the final score read 63-38 and Tennessee’s CFP hopes were done. As was star QB Hendon Hooker’s season.

The Vols still ended the year on a high note considering the circumstances. Backup Joe Milton III came in and lifted the Vols to an Orange Bowl win over Clemson in dominant fashion. Hooker was there for his teammates, though it was obvious he wanted to be out there on the field.

Hooker looked like a Heisman finalist before his injury, and ESPN Insider Mike Tannenbaum insisted Tuesday afternoon that Hooker would also be considered for the top spot in the NFL Draft if he were 100% healthy.

Hooker’s NFL outlook:

Hendon Hooker has 2 things fighting a potential No. 1 overall status: his injury and his age. Bryce Young and CJ Stroud are both 21. Will Levis is 23. Hooker, however, is 25 years old and will turn 26 during his first NFL season. Saying he’d be selected No. 1 overall is not too controversial of a statement at face value, but his age makes us think teams would have shied away from selecting him above younger players in the draft regardless of his injury.

The former Tennessee quarterback was arguably the best player in college football last season, is incredibly accurate, mobile and has a great knowledge and understanding of the game. He doesn’t make mistakes, as he threw for just 5 interceptions to go against his 58 touchdowns thrown across his 2 years at Tennessee. In that same time span, Stroud and Young threw 12 picks each.

This is a long and expedited way of saying some team is getting a steal with Hooker in the 2nd or even late 1st round. Tannenbaum also added that he has Hooker being drafted in the top 5 regardless: