Hendon Hooker hints at special recognition to Peyton Manning

No. 6 Tennessee is 6-0 and the talk of the town once again, with ESPN’s College GameDay headed to Knoxville, Tenn., for the second time this season for Saturday’s showdown with No. 3 Alabama. And quarterback Hendon Hooker has some special things planned.

He may just pay tribute to Tennessee legend Peyton Manning if all goes according to plan.

“I got a Peyton shirt, I want to throw that on coming up here soon,” Hooker said Monday.

A shirt, you might ask? Correct.

Hooker arrived to his postgame press conference following a 40-13 win over then-No. 25 LSU on Saturday sporting a T-shirt that tied in some quarterback history at Tennessee.

His black shirt featured Condredge Holloway, a former Volunteers quarterback and the first Black quarterback to start in the SEC. Hooker explained the meaning behind the shirt, which included Holloway’s nickname, ‘The Artful Dodger,’ on it.

“I just wanted to pay homage to one of the greats,” Hooker said. “Really I showed his son, his son is one of the equipment managers, showed his son, he was like, ‘Hey, I know that guy.’ I just wanted to pay homage.”

Hendon Hooker ready to debut Peyton Manning T-shirt?

Manning, one of the most prominent figures in Tennessee athletics history, was present for the Volunteers’ win over the Tigers on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La.

Hooker would like to spend more time with the legendary quarterback.

“I didn’t really get a chance to chop it up with him, but when I do that will definitely be a great day,” he said.

Something tells us if Tennessee manages to upset Alabama on Saturday — the Crimson Tide have won 15 straight in the series dating back to 2007 — Manning will find some time for the current Vols quarterback.

After all, Hooker is one of the current Heisman Trophy favorites after Week 6, and he’s got the Volunteers at 6-0 and ranked inside the top-10.

Tennessee and Alabama will meet at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday with a national broadcast on CBS.