Hendon Hooker’s return to Tennessee is huge for Vols … and his future

Hendon Hooker didn’t decide to return for another season at Tennessee solely because he’s all Vol. The quarterback chose to stay around Knoxville for another year because he’s smart. It’s that intelligence that could transform Hooker from a 1-year wonder into a bona fide college football star.

Hooker’s decision to return to UT for a “super” senior season was well thought out. There are at least a dozen college football quarterbacks with better NFL Draft grades if you peruse the so-called experts online. However, Hooker could have still taken his chances and gone pro.

Quarterbacks are overvalued in the NFL, so it’s reasonable to think that Hooker could have performed well in workouts leading up to the draft and become a 3rd or 4th-round selection. Then, he could have had the type of career that former Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott has had with the Dallas Cowboys. Prescott was selected in the 4th round of the NFL Draft and is now a household name. Hooker wouldn’t have turned that down had that definitely been his future. However, Hooker knows there’s no certainty that path would have been there.

Prescott was very fortunate when the Cowboys lost starting quarterback Tony Romo to a rib injury in 2016. Prescott stepped in at the perfect time, had talent around him and led Dallas to a 13-3 regular season. It was obvious that Romo wasn’t getting his starting job back after that. There’s no guarantee that Hooker would have ever gotten that shot had he been selected in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft. Prescott also had to wait to get paid like an NFL starter. If Hooker can turn himself into a first-round draft pick, then his pay will be the least of his concerns.

Hooker could also use some fine-tuning. He has accuracy issues which will get better with a full offseason under his belt. He could even work with one of the many quarterback gurus that will help him with those issues. If it were me, I’d call David Cutcliffe. The former Duke coach has some time on his hands, loves Tennessee and just happens to be one of the best quarterback coaches in the history of the game. It would be a worthy investment.

Hooker will also work with Tennessee coach Josh Heupel on reading defenses. Assuming Hooker stays healthy, he’ll also be a Heisman candidate next season. He’ll also throw for countless yards and more touchdowns than any quarterback in recent Tennessee history. Of course, things could always go awry, but that seems unlikely.

It seems unlikely that character will ever be an issue that could derail Hooker in his second season at UT. Hooker used his NIL opportunity to develop a comic book of bible verses for young athletes. He has more pictures online of him smiling with children than I have of me with my own children. After being written off by Virginia Tech, Hooker sees the path he needs to take to stardom. I doubt very seriously that he’ll veer off of that path. Buy stock in Hooker now because it shows no sign of trending downwards.

Hooker undoubtedly had some friends and family that told him to take the money now. There were plenty who advised him to go to the NFL now and start cashing some paychecks that amount to more than comic book sales. Hooker was wise enough not to follow that advice.

Credit the NCAA for finally giving in to the NIL agreement in which college athletes are allowed to profit from their own name, image and likeness. Hooker won’t be rich in 2022, but he won’t have to beg for tacos like former UT running back Arian Foster claims he had to do during his days as a Vol.

As for the connection to the University of Tennessee, there’s no question that Hooker feels that. Unlike so many other players under bumbling UT coaches preceding Heupel, Hooker had a breakout season and wants to stay at UT. Let that sink in for a second. It seemed every other player in Hooker’s type of situation was ready to bolt at a moment’s notice. They felt it imperative to get away from coaches that they knew weren’t on the right track. Hooker wants to stay and play for Heupel. That’s a good sign for long-suffering UT fans.

Hooker’s decision to return to Tennessee surely reminds some of former UT quarterback Peyton Manning, who decided to return for his senior season. It shouldn’t. Despite the fact that another season at UT will further endear Hooker to Tennessee fans like it did Manning, the situations are very different. Manning was going to be a top pick in the NFL Draft had he left UT after the 1996 season. Hooker didn’t have that draft stature.

Hooker’s impact on UT may be much more like Heath Shuler’s than Manning’s. With a talented quarterback intact, Hooker could show another great quarterback prospect that the Vols can put up huge offensive numbers and that they can follow in his footsteps. Skill-position prospects could make the same decision. Hooker, like Shular, could have an impact on UT football that is much more significant than just his playing days.

Transfers are often thought of us malcontents. Well, that’s not the case with Hooker, who left Virginia Tech for the Vols. Hooker wasn’t treated well in Blacksburg and saw things were going south. The Hokies fired Justin Fuente this year. Leaving Virginia Tech was a daft move by Hooker to get out while he still had enough eligibility to resurrect his career. It certainly wasn’t any sort of blemish on his dedication or attitude.

Tennessee fans should adore Hooker because he’s been such a great ambassador in his short time at UT. However, it’s his wisdom that will have a much more significant impact on Tennessee football this season and well after he’s gone.

Dave Hooker

Dave Hooker started covering Tennessee in 1998. He hosts an SEC radio show out of Chattanooga and covers the SEC for Saturday Down South.