Josh Heupel updates Hendon Hooker injury during halftime interview

No. 11 Tennessee leads No. 20 Florida 17-14 at halftime after quarterback Hendon Hooker, injured briefly in the first half, returned to the field to lead a remarkable 12-play, 99-yard touchdown drive just before halftime.

The good news for Volunteers fans? Coach Josh Heupel doesn’t expect the brief Hendon Hooker injury to keep him out of the game after the halftime break.

“He’s fine. He’s a great competitor, but he’s ready to roll,” Heupel told CBS sideline reporter Jenny Dell. “Obviously you could see it on that drive.”

Hooker, taking over at his own 1-yard line, went 5-of-7 passing for 66 yards and a touchdown on the final drive before halftime. He also added a 16-yard run, driving Tennessee into scoring position before connecting with receiver Bru McCoy on a 1-yard touchdown reception to take a 17-14 lead.

He had previously gone to the Tennessee injury tent after fumbling on a strip-sack on a fourth-down attempt.

His gutsy return to the field capped a very competitive first half, with both teams getting a bit chippy just before the break in a rivalry that has been fierce despite Florida winning 16 of the last 17.

Heupel credited Hendon Hooker, injury and all, with hanging tough in the game just before half.

“Competitive composure, right? Reset, go play the next play,” Heupel said. “Play snap to whistle and reset it. Got some things we got to clean up on both sides of the ball, but let’s go play ball in the second half.”

Both quarterbacks nursing injuries in Florida-Tennessee

With Hooker now banged up, both starting quarterbacks in the game are playing through some pain.

Florida starter Anthony Richardson entered the game dealing with a hamstring injury that has reportedly been plaguing him the last couple weeks. The sophomore quarterback was poor in games against Kentucky and USF the last two weeks before the trip to Knoxville.

“There’s been so many questions about Richardson, so I talked to him, I asked, ‘On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the healthiest you can be, how are you feeling?'” Dell reported live on air just before the game began. “He said, ‘Right now, I’m a 7.5.’

“Now, he did nick up his ankle a little in that Week 2 loss against Kentucky, but he said it’s actually his hamstring that’s been bothering him. Now this hamstring injury, this dates back to spring ball a year and a half ago, but it’s shown back up.”

The hamstring injury, which has been an on-and-off issue for Richardson the last couple years, didn’t seem to bother Richardson much in the first half.

The Florida quarterback went 11-of-20 passing for 220 yards (already a career high) with a touchdown and no interceptions. He also added nine carries for 41 yards and a score.