FORT WORTH, Texas – After setting a career high in completions and going for 325 yards and two touchdowns, Hendon Hooker was tabbed to the Davey O’Brien Great 8 list on Monday afternoon.
Hooker, who earned recognition on the Davey O’Brien Award Preseason Watch List, garnered Great 8 acclaim for the second time in his career after doing so last season on Oct. 11, 2021, after a tremendous performance against South Carolina in a 45-20 victory.
The Tennessee signal caller found a rhythm late in the first quarter and throughout the second period, propelling the Vols to 24 points going into the half. He completed five passes for 20 or more yards, one being a 32-yard connection with Bru McCoy for Tennessee’s second touchdown of the game.
Two drives later, Hooker started the series with a 61-yard completion to Cedric Tillman, his longest pass of the day to set up another score. The two linked up again in the clutch, scoring the go-ahead TD in overtime that would eventually stand as the game-winner. Hooker found Tillman in single coverage and the physical redshirt-senior wideout did the rest to give the Vols a 34-27 lead.
Tennessee returns to Rocky Top on Saturday, September 17, for a matchup with Akron beginning at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+. Tickets for the game are available for purchase at AllVols.com.
Davey O’Brien Great 8: Week 2
Davis Brin, Tulsa
Jalon Daniels, Kansas
Frank Harris, UTSA
Sam Hartman, Wake Forest
Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Garrett Shrader, Syracuse
Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
Caleb Williams, USC
Hooker was also named the East-West Shrine Bowl’s “Monday Morning Quarterback”, which is awarded weekly to an all-star game eligible quarterback that displayed the most NFL traits that week. The Greensboro, North Carolina, native was tabbed as the SEC Offensive Player of the Week, as well.
-UT Athletics
