ATLANTA – Jacob Warren and Cooper Mays’ immediate recollections of Hendon Hooker couldn’t be any different. However, they both have great insight into a young man who has become a household name in the SEC.
On Thursday, Tennessee’s starting quarterback will step in front of about 600 reporters on at SEC Media Days.
After what Warren and Mays shared during The Vol Report, I don’t think Hooker will have any anxiety when it comes to handling the podium at The College Football Hall of Fame. Hooker has the faith and toughness to overcome much more than a bunch of old scribes and television talking heads.
Let’s start with Warren’s favorite memory of Hooker, which is actually a collection of recollections. Warren, who will be a key member for the Vols at tight end this season, said that Tennessee’s star quarterback begins every Saturday gamday in the exact same way.
Hooker wakes up early, bouncing out of bed blasting gospel (yes, gospel) music. Warren has heard plenty of the faithful tunes. The two were road roommates for all of last season.
“Every morning before the game without fail, (Hooker) sings it unashamedly, will just sing it out loud,” Warren said. “I really appreciate that because he’s not ashamed and he’s trying to get right with the Lord before a game.
“That’s one thing that I truly appreciate about him.”
Remember, Hooker wasn’t named the starter entering the 2021 season before eventually assuming the reigns and never relinquishing them. Now, Hooker is on several award watch lists and could be named Preseason All-SEC by the media assembled for SEC Media Days.
If Hooker doesn’t make the All-SEC preseason media selection team, he can look back on much tougher circumstances that he has had to deal with, namely getting his teeth knocked out.
That’s what happened last season when Tennessee played Alabama. Mays, Tennessee’s starting center, said Hooker appeared to take a late shot to the head and came up with less teeth than he began the play with.
“It knocked like four of his teeth out and it was probably the second quarter of the game…He continued on and played like he wasn’t even fazed at all,” Mays said. “That was kind of really good story as a testament to who he was a little bit.
“It knocked half of his back four molars out. I’m sure it wasn’t very comfortable.”
Mays remembers Tennessee’s offensive linemen being chewed out following the game. UT’s offensive linemen were challenged to protect their quarterback – and his teeth.
“I didn’t even hardly know,” Mays said when asked about the dental issue. “I guess he just kind of continued on and knew what he had to do and he just kept going. Nobody really talked about it. We just kind of figured it out after the fact.”
If you’re looking for a fire and brimstone player, Hooker is not your guy. He’s a leader, but he’s not one to be loud, unless there’s gospel music playing.
“He’s obviously taken his place as one of the more hard working individuals in our locker room, a really consistent person. When you find somebody that is that good on the field and then does it right off the field all the time, they’re going to naturally find themselves in leadership spots.
“That’s kind of where he’s fit in. He’s not the most vocal guy or anything like that, but he’s such a great leader just by how he does his day-to-day activities and shows the right example for everybody.”
Preseason All-SEC or not, Hooker has earned his spot at the podium.
