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Tennessee football: Ranking transfers by performance in 2021

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) during the NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and South Alabama Jaguars in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 20, 2021.Utvsal1120
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) during the NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and South Alabama Jaguars in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 20, 2021.Utvsal1120 /
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Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) during a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Kns Tennessee Florida Football
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) during a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Kns Tennessee Florida Football /

Hendon Hooker. 1. Scouting Report. Redshirt senior. 839. Pick Analysis. Quarterback. player

Previous school: Virginia Tech Hokies

light. Related Story. Top five Vols in 2021 from 2021 recruiting class

Was there any question about this one? Here’s the ironic part. Hendon Hooker is the one player on this list who didn’t commit to Josh Heupel. However, he was easily Tennessee football’s best player in 2021, not just their best transfer.

Hooker joined the Vols when Jeremy Pruitt was still on staff. It was actually 11 days before he was fired. At 6’4″ 218 pounds, he had spent three years in Justin Fuente’s offense and started multiple games with the Virginia Tech Hokies, so his arrival always brought the added asset of an experienced dual-threat quarterback to the table.

However, Heupel and co. went with Joe Milton III to start the season because he was their guy. Well, after Milton got hurt against Pitt, Hooker came in and never lost the starting job. He had a historically productive season, completing 206 of 302 passes (68.2 percent) for 2,945 yards (9.8 yards per attempt), 31 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Next. Top 10 breakout Vols from 2021. dark

Such efficiency was amazing, even for a quarterback in Heupel’s offense, but Hooker made it even better with 167 carries for 620 yards (3.7 yards per carry) and five touchdowns. He is also coming back in 2022 with Cedric Tillman, so Tennessee football has a lot to look forward to, but this past season was one for the ages in terms of quarterback play.

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