Rookie Scouting Profile: Hendon Hooker

FullTime Fantasy Rookie Scouting Profile: Hendon Hooker

Hendon Hooker (QB) Tennessee

Height	Weight	40-Time	DOB	NFL Draft	Dynasty ADP	NFL Comp
6-3	217	4.77	01/13/1998	Late 1-2	5.02	Geno Smith

College Production

After winning a pair of state titles at Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, and accruing over 9,000 yards of offense, Hendon Hooker enrolled at Virginia Tech in 2018. Hooker didn’t attempt a pass in his redshirt freshman season but rushed for 57 yards and one TD. The following season, he started eight games, completing 61.1% of his passes for 1,555 yards and a 13-to-2 TD-to-INT ratio. The Hokies slipped to 5-6 in 2020 and Hooker chose to transfer to Tennessee, where his play blossomed. Hooker started 11 games in 2021 for the Volunteers, throwing for 2,945 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only two interceptions while rushing for 619 and another five scores. Following that, Hooker was added to the preseason Manning watch list and guided one of the nation’s top offenses before suffering a torn ACL against South Carolina.

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Strengths

• Very good size and athleticism. Hooker stood out as both a dual-threat option and as a potentially accurate pocket passer who should be able to play in any scheme.

• Averaged 11.1 adjusted yards per attempt and boasted a 58-to-5 TD-to-INT ratio with a 178.3 QB Rate at Tennessee.

• Very accurate passer, particularly on short and intermediate throws. Avoids turnovers.

• In 2022, ranked second in FBS with a 123.0 NFL QB Rating and led the nation with 9.5 passing yards per attempt.

• Leadership, character, and football IQ stood out. Reports indicate Hooker aced his interviews with multiple NFL teams this spring.

Concerns

• Already 25 years old and is coming off of a torn ACL.

• Accuracy wanes noticeably on deep throws.

• Due to offense at Tennessee, Hooker could experience significant growing pains when having to learn to read and digest a full NFL field.

• Throwing mechanics disintegrate when Hooker is forced to escape the pocket and improvise on the run.

Fantasy Outlook

If Hendon Hooker was healthy he would be talked up as a top-3 signal caller in this class. That would put him into contention for a top-5 overall pick. There is a lot to like about Hooker’s tape, but he is a tad old and there is the concern of the torn left ACL sustained in November.

That makes Hooker a likely second-round target. However, it would not be a surprise to see a team trade up into the late 20s to nab him. Assuming he fully recovers from the knee injury and keeps his mobility, I think Hooker is a very good value in Superflex leagues, where he can sometimes be nabbed in Round 3.

His redraft value is TBD, but Hendon Hooker has talent I believe in and is a player I want to park on my dynasty rosters.