NFL prospect Hendon Hooker says he is the best quarterback in the draft: ‘I would have myself at No. 1’

Hendon Hooker’s final season with Tennessee led to disappointment when he tore an ACL Nov. 19 in opposition to South Carolina.

Earlier than the season-ending knee harm, he had thrown 27 touchdowns in opposition to simply two interceptions whereas finishing 69.6% of his passes for 3,135 yards, each career-highs. He additionally ran for 430 yards on 104 carries, 5 of them for scores.

In his 4 years with the Vols and Virginia Tech Hokies, he threw for 8,974 yards whereas finishing 66.9% of his passes with 80 touchdowns by the air and only a dozen picks. He established himself at Tennessee, the place he threw for 58 touchdowns and 6,080 yards.

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Hendon Hooker of the Tennessee Volunteers appears to throw in opposition to the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium Sept. 24, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Donald Web page/Getty Photographs)

Nevertheless, Hooker is in a stacked quarterback class, as consultants see it. Hooker, Alabama’s Bryce Younger, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Kentucky’s Will Levis spherical out the consensus high 5, and it would not be out of the query to see all 5 go within the first spherical. 

Some consider the highest three of Stroud, Younger and Richardson, in some order, could go within the high 4.

Hooker is broadly considered the fifth-best quarterback within the class, however he is not shopping for that.

Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) jumps into the tip zone for a landing throughout a recreation in opposition to the Ball State Cardinals Sept. 1, 2022, at Neyland Stadium, in Knoxville, Tenn.  (Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)

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“I’d have myself at No. 1,” Hooker advised USA Immediately when requested about the place he ranks himself among the many quarterbacks within the class. “I gained’t offer you a rating, however I’ll say I give myself No. 1. My soccer IQ. How I’m in a position to course of issues at a excessive pace. My aggressive nature and the way correct I’m with the ball. I could make each stage throw and in addition lethal within the run recreation as properly.”

Hooker went 9-2 as a starter in 2022, and the Vols have been the top-ranked crew within the nation at one level with Hooker below middle.

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) runs for yardage throughout the first half of a recreation in opposition to Florida Sept. 24, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn.  (AP Picture/Wade Payne)

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The NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night time in Kansas Metropolis, house of the Super Bowl champion Chiefs.