Hendon Hooker talks patience, readiness, his areas of focus ahead of 2022 season

Hendon Hooker enters the 2022 season as the surefire starting quarterback at Tennessee after posting absurd numbers across the board once taking over the job last season. But the fifth-year senior is still looking to improve and believes he can take another step in his final season in college.

At SEC Media Days this week, Hooker joined the SEC Network set to talk through the steps he’s taking to improve himself in every facet.

First, he emphasized trying to be a leader on and off the field.

“I want to evolve my game all around, so that starts with leadership in the locker room. One thing that we’ve been trying to be vocal about is being accountable and trying to have the best brotherhood in college football. Off the field just being a leader and trying to lead my team in the right direction on and off. I’m in the classroom every day reading, watching film, in the weight room. Any way that I can improve my game each day I’m going to do it.”

Then Hooker was asked about his career as a whole, which was up and down before he transferred to Tennessee. Though even then, he didn’t get real reps until several games into the season. He answered:

“Knowing that I’ve been in that position before. Every year that I’ve been in college I’ve been in a competition with other quarterbacks. Competition is nothing that I shy away from, but the biggest thing for me was just being confident in my game. Going back and watching old successful film and bad film, as well, knowing I’ve come a long way and I still have a ways to go. But just continuing to grind day in and day out and being confident.”

So what is one aspect of Hooker’s game that he focused on improving this summer?

“One of the big things I’ve been working on this summer is pocket movement. Being uncomfortable, but also being comfortable while being uncomfortable. Being in awkward body positions, being able to make difficult throws at difficult times.”

And he credits the vast improvement in his game since coming to Knoxville to a great coaching staff.

“Coach [Joey] Hazle is a great mentor and coach. He teaches us better than I’ve ever been taught. Not just in football, but in school, the classroom as well. He breaks everything down to a science and tells us why we’re doing things. That’s something that we want to know, things we want to understand.

“Me, Joe Milton and the rest of the quarterback room, we’re asking questions and popping ideas off of each other, so it’s always football talk and trying to gain knowledge throughout the day.”

Hendon Hooker was phenomenal last season. Plus, it’s hard to imagine he’ll get any worse. Should be a huge year for him and the Vols offense.