All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: Hendon Hooker, Cedric Tillman on Maxwell Watch List

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) warming up before the start of an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, September 18, 2021.Utvtech0917
Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) warming up before the start of an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, September 18, 2021.Utvtech0917 /
facebooktwitterreddit

Hendon Hooker and Cedric Tillman became one of the nation’s deadliest passing/catching duo last year and shocked the world when both decided to return to Tennessee football for 2022. Early on, plenty of preseason recognition has been rolling in for them.

Both players are now on the first award watch list of the preseason. Hooker and Tillman were among 85 players named to the 2022 Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List. Like the Heisman, it’s another award recognizing the best player in college football.

To no surprise, Peyton Manning is the only Tennessee football player to win the award, which has been around since 1935. Manning won it in 1997 even as he finished second in the Heisman to Charles Woodson of the Michigan Wolverines.

Tillman and Hooker being on it this year shows just what’s expected of this passing game under Josh Heupel in his second season. It makes sense. Last year, Tillman caught 64 passes for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Hooker completed 206-of-303 passes (68 percent) for 2,945 yards (9.7 yards per attempt), 31 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed for 616 yards and five touchdowns on 166 carries (3.7 yards per carry).

With both of them on the list, the Vols join the Houston Cougars, Michigan State Spartans, Ohio State Buckeyes, USC Trojans, Virginia Cavaliers and Wake Forest Demon Deacons as the only teams to have a quarterback and receiver duo. It’s safe to say those are the expected best passing duos in the nation this year.

Of course, USC is on there with two transfers, Caleb Williams from the Oklahoma Sooners and Jordan Addison from the Pittsburgh Panthers. They also have a new head coach in Lincoln Riley. Virginia has a new head coach as well, in Tony Elliott, and Houston isn’t even Power Five…yet.

Next. 10 school records Vols will break in 2022. dark

As a result, it’s safe to say Tennessee football is in a league with Michigan State, Ohio State and Wake Forest with the Hooker/Tillman duo, and both players being on the Maxwell watch list means something. Don’t discount either player’s ability to win it this year either.

Home/Vols Football