Tennessee Quarterback Hendon Hooker To Return For 2022 Season

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Hendon Hooker. Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

University of Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker will be returning to the Volunteers for the 2022 season after a stellar 2021 season, leading the team to seven wins and the TransPerfect Music City Bowl game berth.

Hooker put on a show in his first season in Knoxville under first year head coach Josh Heupel. He completed 180 of 261 passes for 2,567 yards and 26 touchdowns to only three interceptions. He also rushed for 561 yards on 148 attempts with five scores.

The Greensboro, North Carolina, native enters the bowl game having thrown at least one touchdown pass in 11 straight contests, which is tied for fourth in UT annals. He is one of only six FBS players this season with at least 25 passing touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns, joining Pitt Heisman Trophy finalist Kenny Pickett, Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman, Virginia’s Brennan Armstrong, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ritter and UTSA’s Frank Harris.

A semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, Hooker ranked third in the FBS and was top in the SEC in passer efficiency rating at 182.16. He shattered Tennessee single-season records for completion percentage (69.0) and passer efficiency. He averaged 9.8 yards per passing attempt, which ranked third nationally.

Hooker led a Vols offense that ranked in the top 25 nationally in total offense (459.0 – 16th), scoring offense (38.8 – ninth), rushing offense (212.0 – 19th), first down offense (23.8 – 19th) and third down efficiency (46.2 – 13th). Hooker and Heupel’s impact led UT to its second-highest point per game total in modern school history, behind only the 1993 squad (42.8 ppg).

The Vols and Hooker will take on Purdue on Dec. 30 at Nissan Stadium for the Music City Bowl. Kickoff is scgeduled for 2 p.m. CT.

Steven Boero
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