Hendon Hooker was an On3 Consensus four-star recruit coming out of Greensboro (North Carolina) Dudley High School in the 2017 class. He originally signed with Virginia Tech out of high school, where he started 15 games over four seasons for the Hokies. Hooker was 8-7 as a starter at Virginia Tech, completing 197-of-312 passes for 2,894 yards and 22 touchdowns through the air, while rushing for 1,033 yards on 247 carries and 15 touchdowns on the ground. He transferred to Tennessee in January 2021 and become one of the most dynamic playmakers in the SEC. Entering the 2022 season, the Vols' offense was averaging 42.5 points and 499 yards with him under center. Hooker racked up 3,561 yards of total offense, which ranked fourth in the SEC and fourth in UT single-season history in 2021, and he became the Vols’ first Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist since 2006. In 2022, Hooker set a new career-high in completions (27) in another strong outing against No. 17 Pitt, where he threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns, including a go-ahead 28-yard connection with Cedric Tillman in overtime to help propel the Vols to victory. Against Florida, Hooker threw for 349 yards and two TDs, and added 112 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Hooker’s father, Alan, is enshrined in the North Carolina A&T Hall of Fame after enjoying a stellar playing career as a quarterback. He was the 1986 National Black College Offensive Player of the Year. Hooker earned his undergraduate degree in public relations from Virginia Tech in December 2020. He is pursuing a Master of Science degree in agricultural leadership, education and communication at Tennessee.