Volprofch05
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2023 NFL Draft Watch: Hendon Hooker, Aidan O'Connell and 6 other senior QBs with NFL hopes
Each draft class is different, but on average, there are eight senior quarterbacks selected each year.
Kentucky’s Will Levis will be the first senior drafted at his position and, most likely, the only senior quarterback who will hear his name called in the first round. Who will be the second senior quarterback drafted? And how early?
Each draft class is different, but on average, there are eight senior quarterbacks selected each year.
Kentucky’s Will Levis will be the first senior drafted at his position and, most likely, the only senior quarterback who will hear his name called in the first round. Who will be the second senior quarterback drafted? And how early?
It’s still September and very early in the process, so this list is fluid. But here is my early guess of the eight seniors — for the NFL’s purposes, anyone with four-plus years of college experience — who will be drafted after Levis at the quarterback position:
(The heights and weights with a “v” are verified and official measurements by NFL scouts. Height is represented by four numbers. The first number is feet, the next two numbers are inches, and the fourth number is eighths of an inch. Example: 6033 = 6 feet, 3 and 3/8 inches.)
Hendon Hooker, Tennessee (6033v, 221v)
While Hooker was at Virginia Tech, he didn’t look anything like an NFL prospect. Even after he transferred to Tennessee, it took time before he took over as the starter. The Vols’ offense, though, started to click once he was on the field, and NFL scouts have taken notice. He has been an ideal fit in Josh Heupel’s up-tempo offense, which utilizes plenty of movement (play-action, bootlegs, rollouts, etc.).
In 15 starts at Tennessee, Hooker has been responsible for 45 total touchdowns and only two interceptions. He is an instinctive player as both an athlete and a passer, and he has the smooth release to get the ball out on time.
Hooker’s age — he’ll turn 25 in January — will be an issue for some NFL teams. His internal clock is still developing and he must improve his ball security; he has had 17 fumbles since the start of last season, which isn’t a hand-size issue because his 10 1/2-inch mitts likely will be the biggest in this year’s QB class. However, Hooker has the athletic traits, toughness and mid-range accuracy that will translate to the pro game.