Hendon Hooker reveals his ideal NFL fit

Former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker didn’t see his season end the way he wanted it to, as injury cut off an otherwise fantastic senior season. But the former Tennessee star has had a chance to think about what an ideal NFL fit for him might be.

He’s got a pretty good answer for it, too.

“Anywhere that has belief in my abilities and belief in me as a person, that I can go out there and lead and continue to learn and soak up information from any and everyone in the building,” Hooker said while appearing on The Pat McAfee Show. “That’s what I aspire to do and that’s what I intend to do when I get drafted to a team.”

Hooker was terrific this season for Tennessee, leading the Volunteers to the brink of a College Football Playoff appearance.

He finished the year 229-of-329 passing for 3,135 yards with 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He also added 430 yards rushing and five touchdowns on the ground.

It was enough to help Tennessee to an 11-2 campaign.

Hendon Hooker draws from two NFL quarterbacks

Another interesting thing that emerged from Hooker’s appearance on The Pat McAfee Show was which quarterbacks he sort of models his game after.

Hooker came up with two comps.

“Bits and pieces from both of these guys: From Josh Allen, just his mobility and how hard he runs,” Hooker said. “And throws the ball as well. He has a rocket of an arm. I don’t think I have a rocket like that, but I definitely have a rocket on me.

“Also Deshaun Watson, how he eludes the pocket and is slippery in the running game as well. And also how accurate he is. I pride myself on being extremely accurate and getting the playmakers the ball in space.”

Hooker will be his own guy in the pros, even if he mimics his ideal NFL fit to some degree, and someone will be getting one of college football’s most successful veterans.

The 2023 NFL Draft will begin on April 27 from Union Station Kansas City.