Redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker’s college career ended Nov. 19 in South Carolina.
The 6-foot-4, 218-pound quarterback suffered a season-ending injury against the Gamecocks with a cruciate ligament tear in his left knee.
In the 2022 season, Hooker led the Vols with wins over Alabama, Florida and LSU.
In 11 games this season, he made 229 of 329 attempts for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions. Hooker had 430 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 104 attempts.
Despite a season-ending injury and one remaining game in the regular season, Hooker is a candidate for the Heisman Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to college football’s greatest player.
The University of Tennessee provided the following statistics on Hooker and his pursuit as a Heisman Memorial Trophy candidate and finalist.
The nation’s No. 1 captain in total offense (540.4) and scoring offense (46.5), the No. 3 in FBS in QB Passer Rating (175.51), and the No. 3 in the nation in yards per attempt (9.5).
Under his leadership, he rekindled a program that was 3-7 and in disarray prior to his arrival, before suffering a season-ending cruciate ligament tear in his left knee on November 19 against South Carolina.
Leads the nation in wins over current (Nov. 22) CFP top 7 teams with two and combined for 736 total offense yards and seven touchdowns in these contests (defeated current No. 5 LSU, No. 7 Alabama).
At the time of the meeting, he had five national leads in wins over AP Top 25 teams and combined 1,817 total offensive yards and 16 touchdowns in those games.
The only FBS QB in the nation with 25 or more touchdown passes and two or fewer interceptions (27-2).
Totaled 3,565 offensive yards and 32 touchdowns this season while facing the second-toughest schedule in the nation (ESPN FPI) and four FBS defenses ranked in the top 25 as of Nov. 22 (No. 5 Georgia, No. 15). Alabama, #16 Pitt, #19 Kentucky) … Through the air went 229 of 329 for 3,135 yards and 27 touchdowns with two interceptions, along with 430 yards on 104 tries with four points on the ground in 11 games played.
Nationally, he ranks fifth in completion rate (69.6), fifth in yards per game (8.23), while recording 30+ yard pass plays (27) and 40+ yard pass plays (17) took first place.
A 52-49 win over current No. 7 Alabama included 441 yards in total offense and five touchdowns. Was 21 of 30 through the air for 385 yards and five touchdown passes, the most by a player against Alabama since Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel had five on Sept. 14, 2013.
Against a goal defense that currently ranks No. 11 on the FBS, he fired two passes for 45 yards in the final 13 seconds that set up the game-winning field goal against the Tide in a legendary effort.
A 27-point win on the road against current No. 5 LSU accounted for 295 yards in total offense and two touchdowns, including 17 of 27 passes for 239 yards. Was the Vols’ biggest win in the series since 1940.
In an off-conference Power Five game in Pitt, he accounted for 352 yards in total offense and two touchdowns, including the game-winning 28-yard overtime score.
Leads the SEC in five different categories: total offense (324.1), passing efficiency (175.51), completion percentage (69.6), yards per attempt (9.5), and points responsible (194).
Is the second highest-rated Power Five quarterback this season, according to Pro Football Focus (90.8).
Co-authored a children’s scripture book, The ABC’s of Scripture for Athletes, with his brother Alston.
Story originally appeared on Vols Wire