Josh Heupel updates the status of Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker

On3 imageby:Ashton Pollard10/21/21

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Tennessee may be heading to Tuscaloosa for their annual “Third Saturday in October” date with Alabama without the services of their starting quarterback.

Hendon Hooker suffered a non-serious injury at the end of last weekend’s game against Ole Miss, but head coach Josh Heupel is still unsure if he will be ready to go in two days.

“He’s still day-to-day at this point,” Heupel said on Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference. “Getting some work on the field. As we get to the end of the week we’ll know if he’ll be available for this one.”

If Hooker is unable to take the field against the No. 4 Crimson Tide, it significantly hurts what are already slim chances at an upset victory over a team they have not beaten since 2006. 

Hooker has the second-best passer rating in the SEC right now, just barely trailing Alabama’s Bryce Young. He is completing nearly 70% of his passes and averaging 9.3 yards per attempt. Further, he is taking care of the ball, having thrown 14 touchdowns and just one pick this year.

The 6-foot-4, 218-pound North Carolina native started 15 games at Virginia Tech the past two seasons before transferring to Tennessee in January to play for the previous coaching staff. He’s thrived under Heupel since coming in for Milton when he was injured in the second quarter against Pittsburgh on Sept. 11.

Running back Tiyon Evans and offensive tackle Cade Mays are also day-to-day for Tennessee.

5-1 Alabama is a 25-point favorite over 4-3 Tennessee on Saturday night, which is ironically their average margin of victory over the Vols since the win streak began in 2006. Heupel last faced Alabama head coach Nick Saban in 2013 while he was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma. The Sooners beat Saban’s squad 45-31 in the Orange Bowl. 

The game kicks off at 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Vols fans create fundraiser for Knoxville children’s hospital

After a controversial ending in last weekend’s 31-26 Ole Miss- Tennessee game, Vols fans are attempting to make good and show the college football world they are better than what a select group of their fans showed on Saturday night. 

Brent Baltzer and Jayson Swain have organized a Go Fund Me to raise money for the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville. 

“Let’s show [everyone] what we are really all about!” the page reads.

As of Thursday morning, they had raised over $40,000. It has been posted for two days. Their donation goal is $102,455, the capacity of Neyland Stadium.