Josh Heupel discusses most important aspect of Hendon Hooker's game in 2022

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker was one of the most efficient in all of college football last season. He finished Top-15 in completion percentage (68.2%), Top-40 in yards (2,945), and tied for the NCAA lead for fewest interceptions (3) all while not starting until midseason. While the numbers are top-tier, Volunteer head coach Josh Heupel wants Hooker to focus on something else this fall.

Heupel discussed Hooker’s best qualities in a press conference after Tennessee’s first fall practice. He says he wants Hooker to lock in on what the stats can lead to for the team rather than the stats themselves.

“For Hendon, and I’ve said this to him, this year is not about stats, touchdowns, interceptions, yards. It’s about wins,” said Heupel. “Managing all those expectations and just focusing on doing your job at the highest level is the most important thing for him.”

While Hooker took care of the ball last season, the Tennessee roster as a whole had an issue with it. The Volunteers finished with 13 total turnovers last fall. Heupel wants to see Hooker take the lead on changing that narrative. However, he doesn’t if it means it takes away from Hooker’s assertiveness. Heupel wants his QB’s decisiveness to shine through and impact the entire team.

“We’ve got to take care of the football…There’s a lot of things that factor into that,” Heupel said. “We want (Hendon) to be decisive. We want him to take care of the football. If not and the opportunity presents itself, (he can) use his feet to continue to move the ball for us.”

It will be on Hendon Hooker to remain as efficient with a bigger opportunity as Tennessee’s full-time starting quarterback this season. Josh Heupel has faith that his quarterback can do just that and, in turn, fix the Vol’s turnover problems as a whole.