Hendon Hooker

Tennessee QB

Games Watched: Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia

Summary: Hendon Hooker is a dual threat quarterback who also comes with some major drawbacks. As a passer he takes what he’s given and does not put the ball in harm’s way. He has the arm strength to make most throws and waits for second window throws to open up. He has great feel for the pocket closing in around him and is dangerous as a runner in space because of his agility. One of the main drawbacks is that coming from a spread offense he made few reads and had too many predetermined throws where he often stared down his target. He had some inconsistency with his deep ball accuracy and too often looked to run instead of extending the play and passing when scrambling.

Pros

  • Played with good rhythm as a passer taking easy yards and avoiding risky throws
  • Good arm strength to throw to all levels of the field
  • Great poise and pocket awareness
  • Had the patience to wait for second window throws
  • Shifty runner who can avoid pass rushers and pick up yards on designed runs

Cons

  • Accuracy could be off the mark at times particularly when throwing deep
  • Spread offense meant he didn’t have to go through many reads and many throws were predetermined
  • First instinct when scrambling is always to run rather than look downfield
  • Older prospect who is also coming off an ACL injury

Grade: Hendon Hooker gets a late 2nd round grade. As a dual threat quarterback and a smart passer he’s obviously intriguing, but adjustment concerns and a comparatively low ceiling push him down.