Hendon Hooker draws praise on social media after strong first half
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Hendon Hooker lost the Tennessee Volunteers’ QB competition this offseason, with Joe Milton III getting the QB1 spot.
But, with Milton banged up entering Saturday’s Week 3 matchup against Tennessee Tech, Hooker got the start.
And, he got started with a bang, finding JaVonta Payton for a 29-yard touchdown:
HOOKER TO PAYTON FOR A #VOLS TD pic.twitter.com/tGQ7m8BmFC
— RockyTopTalk (@RockyTopTalk) September 18, 2021
He also threw this strike to Velus Jones Jr., and Jones took it 45 yards for the touchdown:
⚡️⚡️ @VelusJr
Watch live » https://t.co/1Q0NgR4HCG pic.twitter.com/r5MTVeBEw9
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 18, 2021
There was some bad, though, as Hooker did fumble the ball after getting hit low on this play:
another angle of the hit on Hendon Hooker#Vols pic.twitter.com/eaiB8fa07W
— RockyTopTalk (@RockyTopTalk) September 18, 2021
He left the game, but re-entered the game on the following drive. He finished the first half with 3 touchdown passes, though.
So, after he showed he can move the team down the field, many fans took to Twitter to say Hooker should be the Vols’ new starting quarterback:
I'd really be surprised if Milton starts again this year. Hendon Hooker is looking good.
— ? (@dudeitsvance) September 18, 2021
Tennesee is a MUCH better team with Hendon Hooker at QB
— Steven Rummage (@StevenRummage) September 18, 2021
Hendon Hooker showing he can stand in the pocket nicely early it seems.
— Teresa Walker ? (@TeresaMWalker) September 18, 2021
Vols have Hendon Hooker and choose to start Milton over him the other games? https://t.co/CVxIlhmE8v
— Cory Böeckman (@C_Boeckman) September 18, 2021
Hendon Hooker has proved he's a much better runner than Joe Milton. If he can hit even 50% of his deep balls today, he has to be QB1 in Gainesville.
— Lucas Panzica (@lucaspanzica) September 18, 2021
Hendon Hooker stock ?
— Mike (@MikeL_LWOS) September 18, 2021
https://twitter.com/ReggiePJr/status/1439274873784786949
The Vols play Florida next weekend. We’ll see who coach Josh Heupel decides to start.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
