Hendon Hooker‘s latest round of medical evaluations indicate the former Tennessee QB is rehabbing well from his November ACL tear and should be ready for the beginning of the 2023 NFL season.
That’s huge news for a QB trying to squash questions about his knee as well as how his play will translate at the next level.
Hooker tore his ACL in Tennessee’s 63-38 loss to South Carolina on Nov. 19, putting an end to Hooker’s remarkable season.
The five-year starter led the Volunteers to the No. 1 spot in both the Associated Press college football poll as well as the initial College Football Playoff rankings.
Hooker was 229-of-329 (69.6%) for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions in 2022. He added 104 carries, 430 yards and five touchdowns and emerged as an early favorite for the Heisman Trophy.
The ACL injury derailed those hopes but shouldn’t put a damper on his outlook at the next level. He has first-round talent and proved as much with several great plays in 2022.
Hooker eviscerated LSU in a 40-13 win, with this throw to Jalin Hyatt among his best.
Or maybe this one against Alabama a week later was better, when he once again hit Hyatt in stride with an absolute missile.
When he wasn’t showing off his elite arm talent by getting the ball to his speedy playmakers, Hooker proved he could be a difference maker using his legs.
That was most apparent when he escaped what looked like a sack in the third quarter of a September game against Florida and turned it into a 44-yard gain.
During his news conference at the combine, Hooker corrected the narrative that his great 2022 season was a product of a gimmicky Tennessee offense.
While he made no secret that having talented wide receivers to throw the ball to made his job easier, he also noted the underlying intricacies of Josh Heupel’s offense.
“If you really dig into our offense … you would understand it’s elevated to a whole other level. And how fast we’re going, I have to process a lot of information … and communicate with everyone,” Hooker elaborated.
The one knock that remains against Hooker could also be viewed as a benefit. At 25, Hooker is older than NFL starting QBs including Jalen Hurts, Trevor Lawrence and Tua Tagovailoa. 2019 league MVP Lamar Jackson is only one year older than him.
Hooker’s age might scare off teams, but his experience may attract others. There are only a few viable veteran QB options in free agency — Jacoby Brissett, Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo — and Hooker could be valuable for teams that whiff in trying to land a vet.
“Don’t be surprised if Hooker ends up rising, as he can continue to show teams he’s recovering from his torn ACL,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel wrote in February.
That process began Saturday at the combine. Soon enough, Hooker won’t have any questions left to answer.
