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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 62-24 win at Missouri

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 2, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Tiyon Evans (8) celebrates with quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) after scoring at touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Tiyon Evans (8) celebrates with quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) after scoring at touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) passes the ball during an NCAA football game between Tennessee and Missouri on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday, Oct. 2 , 2021.Utmizzou 1002 0351
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) passes the ball during an NCAA football game between Tennessee and Missouri on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday, Oct. 2 , 2021.Utmizzou 1002 0351 /

3. Hendon Hooker further proves himself.

We said last week that Hendon Hooker proved he should be the starter over Joe Milton III. Well, in this game, Hooker erased all questions. He’s Tennessee football’s first true dual-threat quarterback since Joshua Dobbs, and he just orchestrated an offensive performance against Mizzou that only Dobbs had ever orchestrated.

Hooker was super efficient in the passing game. He completed 15 of 19 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns, spreading the ball around in the process. Velus Jones Jr. was the top receiver with seven catches for 79 yards, but Cedric Tillman added four catches for 73 yards and a touchdown, and JaVonta Payton had a 35-yard touchdown.

On the ground, Hooker had 15 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown, so he had four total touchdowns and over 300 total yards on the day. More impressive, though, is the fact that he had turnovers. In fact, he didn’t fumble the ball at all.

It’s beyond clear at this point that Hooker should be the full-time starter. Heupel never should have gone with Milton to start the season, and that might have cost UT against Pitt. With Hooker in, the Vols have a chance in all but two games the rest of the way.

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