Cold Weather is Hendon Hooker's Achilles' Heel

Tennessee’s most valuable player could be forced to face his Kryptonite Saturday night at Kroger Field. Hendon Hooker has the Vols exceeding expectations in Josh Heupel’s first year in Knoxville, but that could change quickly with a little help from Mother Nature.

Hooker did not start the season under center, but quickly took the reins for Joe Milton, injecting energy into Heupel’s offense. He is completing 68.7% of his passes for 1,578 yards, 17 touchdowns and thrown only two interceptions. Hooker uses his legs well too, rushing for more than 400 yards and four touchdowns.

Before taking his talents to Rocky Top as a grad transfer, Hooker began his career at Virginia Tech. You may remember his two-touchdown performance against Kentucky in the 2019 Belk Bowl. You probably did not see his eventful final game on the Hokies’ sideline.

Shivering Cold Hooker Sidelined

The 2-6 Hokies entered the final game of the COVID-plagued 2020 season by hosting No. 3 Clemson at Lane Stadium. A brisk, cold night at Lane Stadium, Hooker froze up under the ESPN Saturday Night spotlight.

With temperatures in Blacksburg in the low 30s, on the first drive of the game Hooker fumbled a shotgun snap that hit him in the hands. Head coach Justin Fuente sent him to the sidelines to regain his composure. When the Hokies’ backup was injured in the third quarter, Hooker remerged. On his second play he fumbled another snap, resulting in a Clemson touchdown. Hooker promptly returned to the sideline, then left to warm his body in the locker room.

“The trainer came to me and told me that he was cold,” Fuente said after the game. “I don’t know if there’s something more significant or serious or what with that. I’ve never seen that before or heard of that before.”

The ABC broadcast showed Hooker shivering uncontrollably on the sideline before he eventually walked to the locker room, effectively ending his Virginia Tech career.

“He wasn’t having a seizure or anything, it’s a natural reaction to the cold,” his father, Alan Hooker, told The Roanoke Times. “You just can’t control it. It’s not something you can fix with a coat or a heater.”

If Hooker can’t control his muscle spasms in cold weather, it might be Joe Milton time for Tennessee. The Wildcats will kick off against the Volunteers at 7 pm ET Saturday night. Forecasters are calling for temperatures in the mid to low 30s, near the same temperature as his final shaky start at Lane Stadium. The Vols’ undisputed Most Valuable Player, it would be a real shame if he was too cold to play football against Kentucky, a real shame.