Hendon Hooker is one of the more interesting QB prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft. The 2-year Tennessee starter was arguably the best quarterback in college football last season, but his age and injury problems will very likely keep him from being a top 10 pick come late April. Hooker suffered an ACL injury in Tennessee’s penultimate game of the regular season against South Carolina.

But Hooker has recently been getting first-round buzz, visiting with the New Orleans Saints the other day. The Saints have a late first round pick in the draft, and many teams which need a QB may be looking at Hooker as a late early round option. He’s not going to be injured forever, folks.

On Wednesday, draft analyst Mel Kiper shared his concerns with Hooker via On3Sports.

“But I think when you look at the quarterback friendly offense at Tennessee, and what I mean by quarterback friendly, he had excellent wide receivers, he took the snap in the shotgun and immediately hop-stepped and threw the football,” Kiper said. “Got it right out of his hands in a fast fashion to three outstanding wide receivers. They had a good running game, and a veteran offensive line. He didn’t roll and throw on the move, he didn’t have to go to that third and fourth option. When he was pressed some, his accuracy diminished a bit. Off the ACL, and he’s 25 years of age, he’ll be 26 in January.”

Kiper argued that Joe Milton’s strong game against Clemson in the Orange Bowl essentially proves his point:

“What also bothers me, Joe Milton came in when Hooker was hurt, and in that bowl game against Clemson, without Cedric Tillman, without Jalin Hyatt, two top receivers, he lit up the Clemson Tigers,” Kiper said “So that Josh Heupel, quarterback friendly offense made it possible for these numbers to be through the roof. His touchdown-interception ratio, 69% completion percentage, ton of yards. I like Hendon Hooker as a second round pick, not a first round pick, but it looks like based on what you’re hearing, he could possibly go in Round 1, late in Round 1.”

What do you think, Vols fans?