Hendon Hooker remains one of only three quarterbacks without an interception

Tennessee is off to a 5-0 start in 2022, and the Vols continue to climb in the rankings as a result. Sitting at No. 6 in the latest AP Top 25, Tennessee is becoming a true contender for the College Football Playoff. A large part of Tennessee’s success is due to the stellar play of star quarterback Hendon Hooker.

In fact, Tennessee is one of just three teams in the country without an interception at this point in the season, according to Action Network’s Brett McMurphy. Hooker and the Vols are joined by Adrian Martinez and Kansas State, in addition to Chevan Cordeiro and San Jose State.

Martinez has led Kansas State to a 5-1 start, and the Wildcats currently sit at No. 17 in the AP Top 25. San Jose State is off to a 4-1 start, sitting atop the West division in the Mountain West.

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Tennessee’s start is incredibly impressive, as is Hooker’s. Through five games this season, Hooker has completed 70 percent of his passes, throwing for 1,432 yards with ten touchdowns and no interceptions. He also has 45 rushing attempts for 231 yards and three touchdowns.

Hooker has been consistent in his play throughout this season, completing at least 63 percent of his pass attempts with two touchdowns through the air in every game thus far. He hasn’t had to throw the ball a ton, due to Tennessee’s large margin of victory in a few contests. But that hasn’t stopped Hooker from lighting it up.

The best game of Hooker’s season came in Week 4 against Florida, where he completed 22 of his 28 pass attempts for 349 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 13 rushing attempts for 112 yards and another touchdown, leading the Vols to a big victory over the Gators, 38-33.

Hooker, Tennessee are gaining respect on the national stage

With his strong start, Hooker is building an undeniable resume that could end with him in New York as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. At the very least, he’s currently in the conversation.

Tennessee, too, is picking up some steam in the race for the College Football Playoff. Sitting at No. 6, the Vols are in a great position to go on a continued run if they can continue piling up the victories over the rest of the season against a tough SEC schedule.

Next up for Tennessee is a home date with Alabama on Saturday in Week 7. The Vols have a massive opportunity to firmly establish themselves as a national contender, but that isn’t their final opportunity. After a home game against UT Martin in Week 8, Tennessee hosts current No. 22 Kentucky in Week 9 before hitting the road for a matchup with current No. 1 Georgia in Athens in Week 10.

If Tennessee comes out of that stretch with no losses, or even with a single loss and a win over Alabama or Georgia, the Vols are going to be in the conversation for the CFP at the season’s end. And if that ultimately happens, Hooker will surely be a big reason why.