Cowboys 'Zoom' to Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker as Dak Prescott Backup?

Dak Prescott is the guy, but the Dallas Cowboys' evolving quarterback situation at the NFL Draft could call upon the services of a fellow SEC alum in Hendon Hooker

Quarterbacking in the SEC and the North Texas professional realm certainly has one thing in common: it just means more.

Some of the NFL's most downtrodden teams would move heaven and earth for Dak Prescott's Dallas Cowboys resume, one that has featured two Pro Bowl invites and a 61-36 record when he starts. But his ability to keep America's Team in contention is viewed by some as a bare minimum for continued aerial endeavors with a star on his helmet. 

Hence, Dallas has been connected to some of the passing prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft and also brought back backup extraordinaire Cooper Rush. 

Preparation for the former will continue over the next two weeks and Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News hints that a new contender has entered the picture in the form of Tennessee signal-caller Hendon Hooker. 

Watkins reiterates that the Cowboys have renewed their interest in local gridiron hero Max Duggan of TCU but that Hooker, the reigning SEC Player of the Year, is now firmly in their sights.

"One quarterback who doesn’t have local ties that has spoken to club officials via Zoom is Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker," Watkins says. "Hooker might be a Day 2 selection. Before tearing his left ACL in November, Hooker made 22 starts for Tennessee. He’s made 37 career starts between Tennessee and Virginia Tech. Hooker went 15-7 as a starter for the Vols and was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022. He threw for 8,974 yards with 80 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his career."

Dallas is previously said to have "met extensively" with Hooker at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. 

Prior to that injury, Hooker established himself as one of the most electrifying players in college football, throwing for 6,080 yards and totaling 68 total touchdowns in two seasons in Knoxville since transferring from Virginia Tech. The dual-threat was a headliner of the resurgence of Tennessee football, guiding the Volunteers to 11 wins, their best mark since 2001. Though Hendon missed the final stages of the season, he finished fifth in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

Dallas has made it clear that they continue to hold faith in Prescott, who led the league with 15 interceptions last season. The team recently brought in Houston Texans playmaker Brandin Cooks in an affordable trade. 

Drafting a quarterback, especially one perhaps not suited for immediate starting endeavors in the NFL, could be a legitimate contingency plan for both the present and future, especially since Hooker holds a similar skillset to Prescott. Based on the mid-round projections for Hooker, the Cowboys are set up reasonably well to bring him on Day 2; in addition to their debut pick at No. 26, they also currently own the 58th and 90th overall selections in the draft's Friday portion.

The 2023 NFL Draft will be held on April 27-29 in Kansas City. … and Dak is the guy. But Dallas seems to want another guy.

---

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Dallas Cowboys?

Follow FishSports on Twitter

Follow Cowboys / Fish on Facebook

Subscribe to the Cowboys Fish Report on YouTube for constant daily Cowboys live-stream podcasts and reports!