Hendon Hooker reveals relationship with Peyton Manning, family

As NFL Draft preparations commence for many of the top college players, one will have something a little extra in his back pocket. Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker can call on the Manning family whenever he wants.

Advice? Tips? Support?

Just pick up the phone and Hooker can have Peyton Manning there to help answer some questions for him or lend an ear in support. That’s one of the perks of being a high-level quarterback coming out of Tennessee. The Manning family support runs deep.

“Yeah, that’s my guy. That’s OG,” Hooker told Pat McAfee recently on The Pat McAfee Show. “So any home game we have that he’s available to come to or any away game, it’s always special to sit there and kind of chop it up with him before the game for a quick second.”

Manning was an absolute superstar at Tennessee and remains one of the school’s favorite sons to this day. He even had a couple of chances to see Hooker in person at various games this year, including an away game at LSU. Even the games Manning wasn’t there for in person he made sure to connect with Hooker on.

“And every game he’ll shoot me a text, him and his father, Archie Manning, so I always have a good time talking to the Manning family and being around them. Shoutout to the Manning family for just embracing me and treating me as one of their own.”

More on the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft is set to take place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event will be held at the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility. 100 underclassmen were approved for last year’s draft. 73 of those 100 underclassmen were granted special eligibility while 27 of them were underclassmen who had completed their college degrees.

The 2023 NFL scouting combine will take place from Feb. 28 through March 6 in Indianapolis.