Tennessee's Hendon Hooker named SEC Offensive Player of the Year
Tennessee redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker was named the Southeastern Conference’s offensive player of the year and Josh Heupel was named the league’s coach of the year by the Associated Press on Monday.
Hooker also represented the Vols on the on AP’s All-SEC First Team, alongside wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, a unanimous selection, and left tackle Darnell Wright. Defensive end Byron Young was named All-SEC Second Team on defense.
Heupel is 17-8 in his first two seasons at Tennessee, taking the Vols to the top spot in the College Football Playoff on November 1 after his team’s perfect 8-0 start to the season.
No. 6 Tennessee (10-2) will play No. 7 Clemson (11-2) in the Capital One Orange Bowl on December 30 (8 p.m. Eastern Time; TV: ESPN) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Hooker, who accounted for 3,565 total yards and 33 touchdowns in 11 games this season, on Monday became Tennessee’s first Maxwell Award finalist since Peyton Manning won the award in 1997.
Hooker on Friday became Tennessee football’s first quarterback to be named a Manning Award finalist. The award, commissioned in 2004, was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl to honor the college football accomplishments of Archie, Eli and Peyton Manning.
Vols WR Jalin Hyatt named finalist for Belitnikoff Award
Hyatt on Monday became Tennessee’s first finalist for the Belitnikoff Award, given annually to college football’s top wide receiver.
Hyatt finished the regular season leading the country in touchdowns, with his 15 setting a new Tennessee program record. He finished with 1,267 receiving yards, only 31 yards short of matching the Tennessee record held by Robert Meachem, who had 1,298 yards in 2006.
Hyatt’s 1,267 yards came on just 67 receptions, giving him an average of 18.9 yards per catch.
As the biggest deep threat the country, Hyatt finished No. 1 in the country in plays of 30 or more yards (15), 40 or more yards (11), 50 or more yards (7) and 60 or more yards (5).
Young had 14 quarterback hits, 10.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks in 12 games this season, finishing the regular season with 34 tackles in 12 games. Wright anchored an offensive line that gave up just 23.0 sacks through 12 games.
Outgoing Tennessee offensive coordinator named finalist for Broyles Award
Former Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh, who on Sunday was named the new head coach at South Florida, last week was named a Broyles Award finalist, given annually to college football’s top assistant coach. David Cutcliffe won the award in 1998 and was the last Tennessee assistant to be named a finalist.
The Vols finished the regular season No. 1 in scoring offense (47.3 points per game), No. 1 in total offense (538.1 yards per game), No. 3 in passing offense (332.3 yards per game) and No. 18 in rushing offense (205.75 yards per game). In 2021, Tennessee finished No. 7 in scoring offense, No. 9 in total offense, No. 12 in rushing offense and No. 39 in passing offense.
Golesh has coached tight ends at Tennessee while serving as offensive coordinator the last two seasons.
