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Tennessee football: Five key Vols to watch for at LSU

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (20) during the 2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl between Tennessee and Purdue at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Bowl Cm 1230 11
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (20) during the 2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl between Tennessee and Purdue at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Bowl Cm 1230 11 /
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Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of a game between the Tennessee Vols and Florida Gators, in Neyland Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.Utvsflorida0924 02052Syndication The Knoxville News Sentinel
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of a game between the Tennessee Vols and Florida Gators, in Neyland Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.Utvsflorida0924 02052Syndication The Knoxville News Sentinel /

r-Senior. Hendon Hooker. player. 839. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Quarterback. 1

6’4″ 218 pounds

He’s Tennessee football’s most valuable player, and his style of play is actually perfect for LSU. Just like Florida and the Pittsburgh Panthers, Hendon Hooker’s mobility will be huge Saturday. The Tigers’ use of press coverage and blitzing will put Hooker’s improved pocket awareness to the test for the first time all year.

LSU has gotten quite a few sacks with those packages, but they have also allowed quarterbacks to run for a lot of yards. FSU quarterback Jordan Travis ran for 31 yards, Southern Jaguars quarterback Besean McCray ran for 47 yards, and Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford ran for 19 yards but would’ve had more if not for two sacks.

When LSU looked so good against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, they were facing a pure pocket passer in Will Rogers. Simply put, they have been able to wreak havoc most successfully on immobile quarterbacks, so Hooker’s mobility will be key here as much as anything.

Next. Week 5 SEC Power Rankings. dark

Given the fact that running backs don’t torch them on the ground, everything is lining up for Hooker to potentially have another 100-yard rushing performance. Tennessee football will need him to do just that, and as a result, he’s once again the most important player in this game.

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