Detroit Lions fans are getting their first look at second-year quarterback Hendon Hooker and are learning what college football fans have known for years: there are some tools in the toolbox, so to speak.
The former Tennessee Volunteer and Virginia Tech Hokie has had a long road to his first NFL action, a journey marred by injury on his final collegiate play.
Here are Hendon Hooker’s college stats and his journey to becoming Jared Goff’s backup in the NFL.
Hendon Hooker Sits As Virginia Tech Freshman
A four-star prospect from Greensboro, N.C. powerhouse Dudley, Hooker was a two-time state champion who finished his high school career as his school’s all-time leading passer with 6,027 yards and 55 touchdowns. Hooker was a true dual-threat, adding nearly 3,000 rushing yards throughout his career.
He signed with Virginia Tech in 2017 and had a good shot at earning the starting spot as a true freshman. When he lost to Josh Jackson, however, the coaching staff decided to redshirt him.
The next season, Hooker played in six games but did not record any passing stats, rushing seven times for 55 yards. Still, Hooker stuck around and went through another quarterback battle in the 2019 preseason, a battle he’d ultimately lose to Ryan Willis.
Rush Attempts: 7
Rush Yards: 55
Rush TDs: 1
Hooker Takes Over As Starter In 2019
Entering his redshirt sophomore season, Hooker looked like he’d get more playing time, even if he didn’t start. But through three games, he didn’t record any statistics.
But in the fourth game, a 45-10 blowout loss to Duke, Hooker completed his first collegiate pass, finishing with one completion for eight yards. Willis had flashed in the first four games, but had also thrown seven interceptions and Virginia Tech sat at 2-2.
Head coach Justin Fuente decided to make the switch and Hooker started his first game at Miami, leading the Hokies to a 42-35 win, going 10-for-20 with 184 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Hokies with 76 yards and a touchdown on the ground as well.
The move sparked the Hokies, who won six of their next seven games, losing 21-20 on the road at No. 16 Notre Dame.
The Hokies would drop the ball — literally — against Virginia in the season finale, falling 39-30 to rival Virginia in a game Hooker finished with two interceptions and two lost fumbles.
A 37-30 loss to Kentucky in the Belk Bowl marred an otherwise impressive season with Hooker at the helm, who finished with a 6-3 record as a starter.
Hooker was mostly a game manager with rushing ability in 2019, averaging just over 20 passing attempts a game. He protected the ball, though, throwing his only two interceptions of the season in the finale against Virginia.
Completions: 99
Attempts: 162
Yards: 1,555
Comp. %: 61.1%
TDs: 13
INTs: 2
Rush Attempts: 123
Rush Yards: 356
Rush TDs: 5
Hooker’s Mixed Results During COVID-Shortened Season
When the pandemic hit, Hooker was entrenched as the starter, but the schedule was understandably weird. Hooker missed the first two games of the season before starting against North Carolina.
Hooker wasn’t bad by any means, and some of the best games of his career came during the pandemic-altered season.
Against Boston College, Hooker completed a modest 11 of his 15 passes for 111 yards. On the ground, though, Hooker was unstoppable, racking up 166 yards and three touchdowns, one of four 100-yard rushing games for Hooker in just eight games.
Hooker had mixed results as a passer, finishing with a much-improved 65.3% completion percentage, but also five interceptions.
Ultimately though, while Hooker played well, the team struggled at times, and Hooker finished 2-5 as the starter during a 5-6 season for Virginia Tech.
On Dec. 17, 2020, Hooker entered the transfer portal, committing to Tennessee on Jan. 7, 2021.
Completions: 98
Attempts: 150
Yards: 1,339
Comp. %: 65.3%
TDs: 9
INTs: 5
Rush Attempts: 120
Rush Yards: 620
Rush TDs: 9
Hooker Transfers to Tennessee as a Senior… And Thrives In The Super Spread
Despite having 15 starts and being a well-regarded quarterback, Hooker flew somewhat under the radar before landing with Tennessee. But once he joined the Volunteers, Hooker’s career took off.
When he moved to Tennessee and Josh Heupel’s superspread, Hooker became a star.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Ironically, Hooker entered the 2020 season as a backup to Michigan transfer Joe Milton. But when Milton went down with an injury in the second game against Pittsburgh, Hooker got an opportunity. He didn’t relinquish it, and he remained the starter, with Milton backing him up for the majority of the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Hooker threw for over 200 yards in all but one of the remaining games on the schedule, finishing the year with an absurd 31-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio and just under 3,000 passing yards. He added 616 rushing yards and five touchdowns, though he did fumble 15 times.
Completions: 206
Attempts: 303
Yards: 2,945
Comp. %: 68.0%
TDs: 31
INTs: 3
Rush Attempts: 166
Rush Yards: 616
Rush TDs: 5
Hooker Uses Extra Eligibility To Continue Success Before Injury
Hooker held off Milton in the offseason and entered his 2022 super-senior year with high expectations. Through 10.5 games, Hooker was even better than he was in 2021, throwing for 3,135 yards and 27 touchdowns with just two interceptions.
Midway through the fourth quarter of a 63-35 loss at South Carolina, Hooker went down with a non-contact knee injury, tearing his ACL and ending his college career.
In 2022, Hooker went 9-2 as a starter and finished fifth in the Heisman voting.
In all, Hooker would throw for nearly 9,000 yards in college, adding another 2,079 yards on the ground with 105 total touchdowns and just 12 interceptions.
The injury would scare some teams, but his talent would be enough to get him drafted. The question would be how early a team would take a chance on Hooker knowing he would have to miss his rookie season.
Completions: 229
Attempts: 329
Yards: 3,135
Comp. %: 69.6%
TDs: 27
INTs: 2
Rush Attempts: 104
Rush Yards: 430
Rush TDs: 5
Hooker a Future Starter In Detroit?
With his ACL injury occurring so late in his final collegiate season, any team with potential interest in Hooker knew he’d likely miss the entire 2023 NFL season. More than that, while Hooker met with teams throughout the draft process, he couldn’t throw or work out in front of scouts.
Still, the Detroit Lions fell in love with Hooker, drafting him early in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 68th overall.
He spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve, but now healthy, Hooker is practicing with the team and playing in the preseason.
The Lions like him a lot, and as Jared Goff ages, Hooker could be the natural successor in Detroit.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest news and analysis, rankings, transfer portal information, top 10 returning players, the 2024 college football season schedule, and much more!