'One of the worst things I've seen out there': Vols react to Hendon Hooker's injury at South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. — After playing through a Tennessee career littered with injuries, LaTrell Bumphus had one thought when he saw redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker laying on the turf in the fourth quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday night.
“I think first thing that went through my head was just pray, really,” Bumphus said after No. 5 Tennessee’s 63-38 upset loss against South Carolina. “(Being) a guy who has gone through a lot of injuries, I know it can be very tough mentally and physically on you.
“I think whatever is going on, we’ve just got to do a good job getting back in the rehab situations and keep bonding and being together.”
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel didn’t have an update on Hooker after the game, saying only that Hooker would be evaluated when the Vols got back to Knoxville.
Hendon Hooker threw for 274 yards, 3 TDs before injury
Hooker ran left on first down with 11:36 left, keeping the football on an option play, but crumpled in pain, grabbing his left leg while on the ground.
“Man, it was probably one of the worst things I’ve seen out there,” Tennessee offensive lineman Jerome Carvin said afterward. “Just knowing how hard he works. Hardest working guy I’ve ever seen, I’ve ever played with.
“It’s so unfortunate to happen to a guy like that. But if I know anything, I know he’ll bounce back from it for sure. He’s a warrior. I know he will.”
Hooker walked off the field under his own power, moving slowly. He completed 25 of 42 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns and rushed five times for 25 yards before leaving the game.
Hooker threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman early in the second quarter and a 7-yard touchdown to Bru McCoy with 12 seconds left in the first half. He had a 41-yard touchdown to Princeton Fant in the third quarter.
He entered Saturday night’s game as a Hesiman Trophy candidate, throwing for 2,888 yards and 24 touchdowns, to just two interceptions, while completing 71.1 percent of his passes through Tennessee’s first 10 games of the season.
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He took over for Joe Milton against Pittsburgh in Week 2 last season, when Milton left the game with an injury. Hooker threw for 2,945 yards, 31 touchdowns and three interceptions in his breakout year.
Up Next: Vols at Vanderbilt, 7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, SEC Network
“We’re all definitely concerned,” Fant said of Hooker. “That’s our brother. That’s our quarterback that we believe in in this offense. He’s in our prayers tonight. We’re praying for him.”
Milton threw for 105 yards and a touchdown last week, playing late in Tennessee’s 66-24 win over Missouri. He finished the South Carolina game with 108 yards and a touchdown.
Tennessee ends the regular-season schedule next week in a 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time kickoff at Vanderbilt.
“Joe Milton is a great player,” Fant said. “He’s a brother as well. Me and Joe, we talk all the time, actually .We talk about things like this all the time. He gets time to go in and shine.
“We believe in Joe as an offense. And I feel like he’s really going to step up in that role, whatever happens. Just ready for it. We’re going to go with it.”
