Hendon Hooker "This is home for me"

[UT Hill Man]

It was nice to have Hendon back in town on Friday to host a youth football camp at Fulton High School. When he went to the NFL he left a void here at QB that still has not been filled.

"This is home for me, that's really unexplainable," said Hooker. "Just coming back, it always feels like I'm from [Knoxville], so anytime that I'm back, it's always a great feeling. It always just feels like home every time I come back to Knoxville, everyone in the community embraces me like one of their own," added Hooker.

His dedication, hard work, and discipline on and off the field motivated teammates to follow suit. And his Christian values resonated with fans and teamates alike. He still prays before every game, as he did before every Vol football game.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

I am guilty of not realizing how good he was while he was here. It’s great that he’s such a great ambassador for our school and embraces Knoxville as a home even though he was here for such a short time.

 

[CINCYVOL]

All the accolades above are true, but let’s not forget the biggest one… he beat Bama and stopped the streak

 

[Big Orange Rob]

Great person and true VFL!

 

[njvols]

Hope he gets traded somewhere where he'll get a shot to play. IMO he's definitely a starter in NFL w/ the right team...I'd imagine he'll get his shot at some point.

 

[Volanta]

Hooker is an amazing man and man of God!

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

All the accolades above are true, but let’s not forget the biggest one… he beat Bama and stopped the streak

He was part of the team that beat Bama. He didn’t beat them by himself. No QB wins by himself.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Hope he gets traded somewhere where he'll get a shot to play. IMO he's definitely a starter in NFL w/ the right team...I'd imagine he'll get his shot at some point.

I hope so as well. But I wonder if he will ever be a full time starter.

 

[Jackcrevol]

I am guilty of not realizing how good he was while he was here. It’s great that he’s such a great ambassador for our school and embraces Knoxville as a home even though he was here for such a short time.

one of my all time faves.

If I could get a Dale Carter jersey I would. Got the EB and HH.

 

[FanDude]

I am guilty of not realizing how good he was while he was here. It’s great that he’s such a great ambassador for our school and embraces Knoxville as a home even though he was here for such a short time.

Not trying to be cute by saying I do not know how anyone missed it. That guy set extremely high standards for himself, and he achieved them. Without calling him the GOAT, I'll just say that I would rather have him in the game than #16. That is how good he was.

 

[stolitonic]

Gotta admit-I thought our 2021 season was toast when Milton got hurt vs Pitt.

Hooker turning into Superman the rest of that season and 2022 was one of the craziest and most unexpected things I have ever experienced as a Vol fans.

He didn't start his career here but the man more than earned his VFL stripes on and off the field.

 

[VOLLeeann]

He still prays before every game, as he did before every Vol football game.

Love his VFLifeness, his time at UT, keep the prayer in the locker room. Or church.

 

[savannahfan]

Not trying to be cute by saying I do not know how anyone missed it. That guy set extremely high standards for himself, and he achieved them. Without calling him the GOAT, I'll just say that I would rather have him in the game than #16. That is how good he was.

Easy now......

 

[rocketskates]

Great player, even better man.

 

[rocketskates]

Easy now......

Lol. I hear ya. BUT--I kinda see where he's coming from. In the current CFB offensive landscape, HH was the prototype QB. It's a shame that he got hurt and the team decided to let their locker room issues air out against South Carolina because otherwise we'd probably be putting another natty in the trophy case.

 

[vols 30]

Not trying to be cute by saying I do not know how anyone missed it. That guy set extremely high standards for himself, and he achieved them. Without calling him the GOAT, I'll just say that I would rather have him in the game than #16. That is how good he was.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

It just shows how many players truly do love the game and universities the go and went too. Sure there are a few everywhere that may take everything for granted. But for many and most the college days were great days and as we see with many players that continually come back to support and talk to players that most still care. GBO

 

[Vol423]

Love his VFLifeness, his time at UT, keep the prayer in the locker room. Or church.

He can pray wherever and whenever he wants.

 

[OldVol]

All the accolades above are true, but let’s not forget the biggest one… he beat Bama and stopped the streak

The pass to Bru late to set up the field goal was as exciting as any in Tennessee history and I’ve been watching for 65 years.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Not trying to be cute by saying I do not know how anyone missed it. That guy set extremely high standards for himself, and he achieved them. Without calling him the GOAT, I'll just say that I would rather have him in the game than #16. That is how good he was.

I think there are several factors at play. I think Hooker had the benefit of being in a brand new offense at Tennessee that teams were still adjusting to . We had a lot of guys running wide open and he threw a great deep ball. Teams have adjusted recently and those deep balls aren’t as available as they were in 21 and 22, but Milton and Nico weren’t accurate at all throwing downfield. I think why I said what I said was bc Hooker’s decision making and accuracy made the offense much better than it has been the last 2 seasons and he didn’t have a history of being as good as he ended up being, therefore a lot of credit went to Heupel and Golesch.

I’m gonna agree to disagree about Manning.

 

[Rocky Top T]

Love his VFLifeness, his time at UT, keep the prayer in the locker room. Or chu

 

[TheVolsFrog]

I hope so as well. But I wonder if he will ever be a full time starter.

At this point. Milton probably has a better shot at being a FT starter unless something happens for Hooker like what happened for Brock Purdy

 

[WillisWG]

Rocky Top, you'll always be, Home sweet home to me

 

[volfan102455]

I wish we had more like Hendon Hooker in the college game today.

 

[KnoxToTheBoro93]

I hope so as well. But I wonder if he will ever be a full time starter.

One of the worst timed injuries I hate it for him but i know he will be ready if his number is called