“I simply go into meditation mode,” Hooker mentioned just lately.
Mitigation of exterior noise was notably vital this week. With explicit deal with the sport plan, Hooker won’t be bombarded with chatter about how Saturday’s sport between the sixth-ranked Volunteers and No. 3 Alabama in Knoxville, Tennessee could possibly be his Heisman Trophy second. .
Hooker’s manufacturing matched the rising hype: He accomplished 70% of his passes for 1,432 yards with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions. He additionally has 231 yards and three touchdowns as a rusher, together with a headlining 44 yards in a 38-33 win over Florida on Sept. 24.
“Initially, the man is a extremely good athlete,” Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban mentioned. “Is aware of the assault very properly, could make performs along with his ft, however he’s a really, excellent passer. He’s very correct, does not make many errors with the ball, does not throw any interceptions, finishing 70% of his balls.
Security and accuracy on the ball are amongst Hooker’s most prized attributes since his days at Blacksburg, the place he took over as a starter in 2019 and had the Hokies in rivalry for the Coast Division title. ACC till a 39-30 loss to Virginia within the common season finale.
Hooker completed the season with 1,555 yards and 13 touchdowns on 99 of 162 passes (61.1%) with two interceptions. He first took management of the beginning job the next season regardless of the arrival of Braxton Burmeister, a switch from Oregon.
Then a sport in opposition to Clemson on Dec. 5, 2020 drastically modified the fortunes of Hooker, Virginia Tech and Tennessee.
In a 45-10 loss to the Tigers, Hooker tried and accomplished a move along with recovering his personal fumble on the primary possession of the primary quarter. Coach Justin Fuente turned to Burmeister and Hooker by no means performed one other down for Virginia Tech.
On the sidelines, Hooker appeared distressed, his enamel chattering and his fingers going numb from a scarcity of circulation. Previous to the season, Hooker handled what was considered a coronary heart situation. A process later revealed the organ was wholesome, however Hooker and her father cited medicine remaining in her system as the reason for the episode months later.
In a post-match press convention, Fuente indicated that Hooker was simply plain chilly. Lower than two weeks later, Hooker introduced on social media that he would enter the switch portal. In an emotional reunion, Hooker knowledgeable Fuente of his intention to play elsewhere simply days after the incident.
Since Hooker’s departure, the Hokies have gone 8-11 and gone by means of 4 quarters, with Grant Wells, a switch from Marshall, the final this season.
“This is likely one of the hardest selections I’ve ever needed to make,” Hooker wrote earlier than selecting Tennessee after conversations with then-Volunteers coach Jeremy Pruitt and his group, together with together with offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke.
Lower than two weeks after Hooker joined his new group, Pruitt was fired amid an NCAA investigation into improper compensation to prospects. Hooker selected to remain in Tennessee moderately than be compelled to be taught one other offense at a 3rd faculty.
Then Hooker needed to wait his flip to start out when Josh Heupel took over because the Volunteers coach. Joe Milton III began the primary two video games final season, however within the second, Hooker sparked a comeback that fell brief in opposition to Pittsburgh in a 41-34 loss. Hooker accomplished 15 of 21 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns, main the Volunteers to their last 21 factors and bumping Milton because the starter for the rest of the season. He completed 2021 with 2,945 yards, 31 touchdowns and three interceptions.
“His offense is unimaginable,” Hooker mentioned of Heupel, who got here to Rocky High after three seasons as Central Florida coach. “I keep in mind when he was at UCF, watching their video games on ESPN. I used to be an enormous fan. As soon as I heard he was coming right here to be our head coach, I used to be very excited. .
Hooker and Heupel are accelerating a resurgence that noticed Tennessee begin 5-0 for the primary time since 2016 and lead main school soccer in whole offense (547.8 yards per sport) and red-zone effectivity (27 for 27) whereas rating second in factors (46.8).
Hooker, in the meantime, has thrown for a landing in 17 straight video games, tied for the longest streak within the nation. It is also simply shy of Heath Shuler for the college document set from 1992-93, additional including to Heisman’s hopes of Hooker.
No Volunteers participant has received school soccer’s most prestigious particular person award.
Saturday’s showdown will doubtlessly pit Hooker in opposition to defending Heisman Trophy winner and second-straight Alabama quarterback Bryce Younger. The junior’s standing stays unsure following an damage a number of weeks in the past that stored him out of final week’s win over Texas A&M.
“You retain successful, you retain taking part in like [Hooker] it is you are going to get loads of consideration, rightfully so,” mentioned Heupel, who completed second within the Heisman Trophy in 2000 as an Oklahoma quarterback. “As you proceed this journey right here over the subsequent month, you must hold taking part in the way in which he’s, however he is particular.”