Hendon Hooker enters injury tent after sack-fumble in second quarter

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker entered the injury tent after fumbling the ball on fourth-down attempt that he was sacked on. Hooker and the Volunteers offense attempted to pick up a fourth-and-eight, only to have Hooker hit from his blind side and end the drive with a turnover. Hooker suffered several big hits on the drive, including a big tackle that drove him into the ground from Florida freshman Chris McClellan.

The broadcast caught Hooker’s face as he came off the field during the second quarter drive and the quarterback was in visible pain. He entered the injury tent afterwards, but quickly returned to the sideline ready to come back in for the Volunteers final drive of the game.

CBS provided a quick update as he returned to the field, stating that Hooker was in a good amount of pain and wincing on the sidelines, but that he was cleared to come back in for the half by the team’s medical staff.

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Hooker returned to run the two-minute offense and his injury didn’t appear to stop him from making any plays as he completed a huge pass to Ramel Keyton for 43 yards. Tennessee didn’t stop there, with Hooker making a gutsy run up the center of the field despite his injury and bringing the Volunteers into goal line range.

He completed the drive with a huge touchdown pass to Bru McCoy, giving Tennessee the lead 17-14 at the half.

The game was an exciting one throughout the first half as both offenses put together big drives on offense, with Hooker posting a career high for first-half total yards gained. Hooker threw for 248 passing yards and rushed for 65 more — scoring two touchdowns.

On the Florida side of the game, Anthony Richardson matched him nearly identically as he posted a career high for passing yards in a game with a second half still to play. Richardson finished the first half with 220 passing yards and 41 rushing yards — with a pair of touchdowns as well.