Tennessee practice begins on Monday with one issue squared away: The Vols have a really good quarterback. That’s a great start.
Hendon Hooker will be Tennessee’s first-team quarterback unless fate determines otherwise – and his fate seems to be in his hands. If David Cutcliffe had his way during Hooker’s recruitment, Hooker wouldn’t be suiting up in orange this fall.
“I tried like crazy to get him to Duke,” said Cutcliffe, who coached the Blue Devils from 2008 to 2021. “He’s a talent. He’s a competitor.”
The media agreed with Cutcliffe. Hooker, who signed with Virginia Tech before transferring to Tennessee, was recently named second-team preseason All-SEC. The only quarterback to beat Hooker to first-team was Alabama QB Bryce Young, who won the Heisman Trophy last season. Despite Young’s abilities, Tennessee wouldn’t be interested in trading quarterbacks with the Tide if the opportunity presented itself. Hooker is a known commodity and a perfect fit for Josh Heupel’s offense, which was apparent last season in Heupel’s first year as Tennessee’s head coach.
“I think Josh Heupel’s offense is completely suited to his skill set,” Cutcliffe said of Hooker
Cutcliffe knows Heupel better than many of the other SEC coaches he’s been assigned to oversee. Cutcliffe visited Central Florida when Heupel was the head coach of the Golden Knights, and was impressed then with Heupel’s coaching abilities. He’s continued to be impressed with what Heupel has done with Hooker.
“They’re doing a great job with him as a quarterback,” Cutcliffe said.
The former Tennessee assistant and Ole Miss head coach should know, since there are a couple of Mannings that owe a lot to one of the newest members of the SEC.
