KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After leading Tennessee to a TransPerfect Music City Bowl berth and serving as the catalyst of the Volunteers’ offensive juggernaut, quarterback Hendon Hooker is coming back for one more year. The graduate transfer made it official on Sunday, electing to take advantage of his “super” senior season of 2022.
Hooker, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, was spectacular in his first season in Knoxville under head coach Josh Heupel. He completed 180-of-261 passes for 2,567 yards and 26 touchdowns to only three interceptions. He also rushed for 561 yards on 148 attempts with five scores.
A semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, he ranked third in the FBS and was tops in the SEC in passer efficiency rating at 182.16. Hooker shattered Tennessee single-season records for completion percentage (69.0) and passer efficiency. He averaged 9.8 yards per passing attempt, which ranked third nationally. Of the 19 FBS players who threw 25 or more touchdowns this season, no one had fewer interceptions than Hooker (3).
Hooker enters the bowl game having thrown at least one touchdown pass in 11 straight contests, which is tied for fourth in UT annals. He is one of only six FBS players this season with at least 25 passing touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns, joining Pitt Heisman Trophy finalist Kenny Pickett, Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman, Virginia’s Brennan Armstrong, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ritter and UTSA’s Frank Harris.
Hooker arrived at Tennessee after playing his first four seasons at Virginia Tech. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2017 and earned his undergraduate degree in public relations in 2020. In total, he has accounted for 49 touchdowns and 7,055 yards of total offense during his entire collegiate career.
Hooker was the leader of a Vol offense that ranked in the top 25 nationally in total offense (459.0 – 16th), scoring offense (38.8 – ninth), rushing offense (212.0 – 19th), first down offense (23.8 – 19th) and third down efficiency (46.2 – 13th). Hooker and Heupel’s impact led UT to its second-highest point per game total in modern school history, behind only the 1993 squad (42.8 ppg).
Tennessee began its TransPerfect Music City Bowl preparations with its first practice on Saturday. The Vols (7-5, 4-4 SEC) and Purdue (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten) meet at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT on Dec. 30 in Nissan Stadium. The contest will be carried live on ESPN with Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst) and Cole Cubelic (analyst) on the call. Tickets are on sale through the bowl at musiccitybowl.com.
Existing season ticket holders can renew their tickets for the 2022 season now by visiting AllVols.com. Fans wishing to purchase new season tickets for the 2022 campaign can submit a request by clicking HERE.
Hendon Hooker in the Tennessee Single-Season Record Books
Total Offense – 3,128 (6th)
Touchdown Passes – 26 (7th)
Consecutive Games with a Touchdown Pass – 11 (4th)
Completion Percentage – 69.0 (1st)
Passer Efficiency Rating – 182.16 (1st)
Passing Yards – 2,567 (12th)
Rushing Yards by a Quarterback – 561 (4th)
Hendon Hooker in the 2021 FBS Rankings
Yards Per Passing Attempt – 9.8 (3rd)
Passer Efficiency Rating – 182.16 (3rd)
Completion Percentage – 69.0 (10th)
70-Yard Pass Plays – 4 (1st)
Hendon Hooker in the 2021 SEC Rankings
Passer Efficiency Rating – 182.16 (1st)
Completion Percentage – 69.0 (2nd)
Passing Yards – 2,567 (7th)
Passing Touchdowns – 26 (4th)
Yards Per Passing Attempt – 9.8 (2nd)
Rushing Touchdowns by a Quarterback – 5 (3rd)
Rushing Yards by a Quarterback – 561 (3rd)
70-Yard Pass Plays – 4 (1st)
-UT Athletics
