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Tennessee Volunteers elite QB Hendon Hooker was one of the best offensive players in the just concluded College Football season.
The 25-year-old shot caller led the Tennessee Volunteers to an 11-2 record in the SEC without having a stellar supporting class to fall back on. However, despite his talents, he will not participate in this year's NFL Combine.
That's because of an ACL tear he suffered against South Carolina last November. The injury curtailed his college season and prevented him from going out with a bang. As such, he will not be able to showcase his talents at the Combine over the next week.
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Hendon Hooker's Injury Update
ACL tears of this nature typically take between nine and 12 months to come back from, so it's no wonder the NFL Combine is out of the question for Hooker. That's truly unfortunate for the talented Hooker, who won the SEC Offensive Player of the Year award for 2022 despite missing his side's final two games.
Furthermore, his injury might plummet his draft stock from a late first-round pick to a possible mid-second-round pick. It's such a sad tale for the hardworking shot caller, who has worked hard to get to this point in his career.
Aside from Hendon Hooker's injury woes, the little elephant in his room is that NFL prospect age (25), the oldest among elite QBs in this year's NFL draft. Any team drafting Hendon Hooker would likely be wary of the work they will need to put in to ensure he makes a smooth transition from college ball to the pros.
This task is more straightforward with younger QBs, but unfortunately, Hooker does not fit that bill, even though there are some things that he does way better than his peers. It remains to be seen the team that takes the risk on him; our bet is on the Carolina Panthers.
How did Hendon Hooker perform in 2022 College Football Season?
Hendon Hooker was incredible for the Tennessee Volunteers in the last College Football season, helping them to stay competitive all season.
He helped them to a 9-2 record in games he started and never shied away from a challenge. He might not be the most skilled prospect, but he made up for the lack of that with a pure heart.
Hooker put up a stat line of 3,135 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions in his final college football season. He also earned the SEC Offensive Player of the Year award for his stellar efforts. He will be anticipating hearing his name on draft day.
