Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker, a Heisman Trophy hopeful, appeared to suffer a severe leg injury in the fourth quarter of the No. 5 Volunteers' loss to South Carolina on Saturday night.
Hooker went down after planting his left leg on a fake pitch. He crumbled to the turf, losing the ball in the process. It was scooped up by a Gamecocks defender.
On Sunday, the Volunteers announced Hooker had torn his ACL, ending his collegiate career.
Thank you @henhook2 🙏#VFL pic.twitter.com/7IlJWpFOmj
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) November 20, 2022
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Hooker stayed on the ground for a while, clutching at his left leg as trainers tended to him. He walked off the field with assistance from Tennessee staff, putting little weight on his leg. He did not return to the game.
Please Be Ok Hendon Hooker :( pic.twitter.com/ipOSNREcZs
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) November 20, 2022
Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker goes down clutching his leg after a hit! #TENNvsSC pic.twitter.com/BYPqa8SeMA
— Swapty Sports (@SwaptySports) November 20, 2022
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker heads to the locker room, with a slow walk, not putting much pressure on leg.
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) November 20, 2022
A fantastic season for Hooker, which hopefully doesn’t end in Columbia. pic.twitter.com/3QgWlRXEdG
It was a dream senior season for the 24-year-old Hooker, who vaulted himself into Heisman contention with precise passing and explosiveness outside the pocket. Despite the Vols' struggles against the Gamecocks (Tennessee lost 63-38), Hooker still delivered, throwing three touchdowns. He had 32 total touchdowns to just two interceptions in 2022 and has moved into Day 1 consideration in the 2023 NFL Draft.
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"There isn't a quarterback in college football who has made a bigger jump from last year to this year than Hendon," said NFL Draft guru Todd McShay.
