Hendon Hooker chomps Gators in big win
Vol quarterback Hendon Hooker recorded 461 all-purpose yards and led Tennessee to a historic win over Florida.
KNOXVILLE, TN - September 24, 2022 - Quarterback Hendon Hooker #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Florida Gators and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
With star wide receiver Cedric Tillman ruled out for Tennessee’s showdown with Florida, Vol quarterback Hendon Hooker needed to find another go-to option for Tennessee to stay afloat.
What resulted in the No. 11 Vols’ (4-0, 1-0 SEC) 38-33 win over the No. 20 Gators (2-2, 0-2 SEC) was a dominant display at the quarterback position.
Hooker finished the game with 349 passing yards with two touchdown strikes through a 79% completion percentage. He also added 112 rushing yards with a score on the ground making him the game-leading rusher.
These extraordinary stats earned him SEC Offensive Player of the Week, Walter Camp Football Foundation’s National Player of the Week and Reese’s Senior Bowl Offensive Player of the Week accolades. This is already the second time this season that Hooker has been named with the SEC Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Without Tillman, Hooker looked to Bru McCoy, Ramel Keyton and Jalin Hyatt for production. McCoy finished with 102 yards and a touchdown including a massive 70-yard gain to set up a score. Keyton caught just three balls but totaled 69 yards. Hyatt continued his impressive play with 58 yards on five receptions.
Outside of his receivers, Hooker looked to his experienced tight ends and running back. Princeton Fant and Jacob Warren combined for 88 yards on four catches. Jabari Small finished with 32 yards through the air and a touchdown reception. Small also added 90 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
“Nobody was happier in the locker room than Cedric (Tillman) was,” said head coach Josh Heupel. “It is a team game; we love Ced and recognize what he brings to the table. Somebody goes down, I do not care what position or what unit it is on, it has to be that next-man-up mentality. You have heard me talk about preparing for your opportunities so that when you get it, you are ready to take advantage of it. I thought Ramel (Keyton) did a great job tonight, made big plays, won his one-on-ones and executed extremely well. With Ced, with a bye week here, we will see where we are at, but hopefully, we will get him back for the next one.”
Perhaps Hooker’s most impressive drive of the night came right before halftime. With the Vols pushed back to their own one-yard line, Hooker led the team all the way down the field to take a lead moments before halftime. The 99-yard drive featured 82 yards of offense through Hooker’s arm and legs. During the possession, Hooker also found Keyton on an extraordinary 43-yard diving grab to propel Tennessee into Florida territory.
“It was huge in the way that the game played out,” said Heupel on the drive. “We scored on that one, and then we scored at the beginning of the third quarter. We were in some long-yard situations during the course of that drive, got it going, made a huge play with Ramel (Keyton) down the sideline. There were some big plays in the football game. Hendon (Hooker) played his butt off; he played at an elite level. Decisive with the football, accurate with the football, intermediate, short, long. Used his legs at the right time, created big plays there, and just was a tough competitor. Offensively, we fed off of him all night long.”
Hooker’s impressive night also notched his name in the record book. After failing to throw an interception against the Gators, his school record of pass attempts without an interception has been pushed to 212. This is now the ninth-longest streak in SEC history. Hooker’s 349 passing yards are also the most a Tennessee quarterback has passed for against Florida since Peyton Manning totaled 353 yards through the air in 1997. He also became just the second quarterback in Vol history to pass for more than 300 yards and rush for more than 100 in a single game, joining Joshua Dobbs who hit the mark twice in his career.
After a dazzling four-game start, Hooker has climbed to the fourth shortest odds in the Heisman Trophy race according to VegasInsider. He trails quarterbacks C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young and Caleb Williams.
Hooker’s next chance to shine will have to wait a week as Tennessee has a bye. Following the break, the Vols travel to Baton Rouge to take on LSU at noon on ESPN.
Ryan Sylvia is the Sports Editor at TNJN. He is a senior at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville majoring in journalism and electronic media. Although he spent most of his life being raised outside of Philadelphia, he was born in Knoxville, and he is happy to be back home. Ryan has had a love for sports from an early age, and he found his love for writing in high school while taking journalism classes. He hopes to find a job involving both his passions as a sports journalist after graduation. To reach Ryan, email him at rsylvia@vols.utk.edu
