Volunteer Country

Detroit Lions Draft Hendon Hooker

Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker has been selected by the Detroit Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Evan Crowell

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It took a while, but Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker has been selected. The Detroit Lions selected him in the third round of the NFL Draft at pick No. 68.

Hooker ignited the revival of Tennessee football. He paired with newly minted head coach Josh Heupel before the 2021 season, though Hooker didn't win the starting job. Heupel initially anointed current starting quarterback Joe Milton III as his quarterback, but it became apparent that Hooker was the right man for the job when the Vols reached the regular season.

He threw for 2,945 yards and 31 touchdowns against three interceptions in his first season with Tennessee and followed it up with a stellar college finish. Hooker threw for 3,135 passing yards and 27 touchdowns against just two interceptions in 2022, winning SEC Offensive Player of the Year and was, at one point, a Heisman contender.

Many had a lot of criticisms of Hooker in the predraft process. He's 25 years old and the oldest first-round quarterback selected since the Cleveland Browns took 28-year old Brandon Weeden at No. 22 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. He's also coming off an ACL tear, and evaluators have concerns that Heupel doesn't run a pro-style system. Hooker now gets an opportunity to dispel all that in the NFL by performing and stepping into a fruitful opportunity.

How To Watch: NFL Draft

  • Gameday: Thursday, April 27th, 2023.
  • Game time: 8:00 pm ET
  • TV: ESPN/NFL Network
  • Stadium: Union Station Kansas City (Kansas City, Missouri)
  • Live stream on fuboTV: Start with a 7-day free trial!

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Evan Crowell
EVAN CROWELL

Evan Crowell is the lead publisher of Sports Illustrated-FanNation's Volunteer Country, serving as a beat reporter covering football, basketball, and recruiting. He previously worked as the lead publisher of Sports Illustrated-FanNation's Gamecocks Digest.

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