Josh Heupel knows all of Hendon Hooker’s best traits, and some of them are the ability to process information extremely quickly, such as changing a play based on the defense’s alignment.

Heupel, in an interview with SiriusXM, said he wouldn’t have played at the level he did at Tennessee last season without a high level of football knowledge.

“He’s got an unbelievable understanding of protections, schemes, how to redirect protection … and that’s been a huge part of why he’s continued to climb through the draft process, because he’s been able to relay all that information to executives,” Heupel said.

Heupel also believes that Hooker has handled the ups and downs and peaks and valleys of being a college quarterback.

“That’s going to help him in the next step, and I think that part of it’s a real positive for NFL teams, because they know here’s somebody who’s able to grind it out, going to be able to compete, going to be able to handle adversity, and going to be able to handle it in a really positive way,” Heupel said. “One of the great things about Hendon is his purpose when he walks in the building every day. He’s got a mission on how he wants to impact his teammates in a leadership role, but he also has a great vision of what he wants to work on in his craft, and he’s somebody who’s first one in, last one out … ”