Josh Heupel made an appearance on ESPN’s “Keyshawn, JWill, and Max” to discuss 2023 NFL Draft QB prospect Hendon Hooker. Hooker started the majority of games in 2022 before tearing his ACL against South Carolina in the second to last game of the regular season.

Hooker started his college career at Virginia Tech before transferring to Tennessee in Jan. of 2021. Hooker finished his Tennessee career with 6,080 yards passing and 68 total touchdowns.

However, what makes Hooker special in Heupel’s eyes is how dynamic the former Volunteer QB is.

“First of all, he’s infectious inside the building as you guys know. If you’re playing quarterback, you’ve got to have great leadership traits and you’ve got to effect people in a positive way. As a playmaker, he’s dynamic. He’s got talent to spread it sideline to sideline, vertically down the field. He’s extremely accurate with the deep ball and he’s got the ability to have a great pocket presence. He changed Tennessee.”

The Volunteers finished with their first 11-win season since 2001 this past year. Phillip Fulmer led Tennessee an 11-2 record and a win in the Florida Citrus Bowl that season.

ESPN’s Matt Miller projected Hooker to go in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 23 overall.

Here’s the full clip of Heupel’s interview on ESPN: