NEW ORLEANS — For the second time this season, Tennessee redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker has been selected by The Manning Award as one of its eight “Stars of the Week.”
Hooker was spectacular in leading Tennessee to a 45-42 high-scoring win at No. 18 Kentucky as he accounted for four touchdowns and 357 yards of total offense—averaging an incredible 11.52 yards per play. The signal caller from Greensboro, North Carolina, finished an efficient 15-of-20 for a career-best 316 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions and also added 41 yards on the ground.
Hooker fired multiple touchdown passes over 70 yards, becoming the first Vol QB since at least 2000 to achieve the feat in the same game and the only player in the SEC this season to do it in a conference game. Hooker moved into a tie for the national lead in 70+ yard touchdowns on the season with four, while elevating his QB passer rating to 190.01, good for fourth in the nation. He also surpassed Peyton Manning (20 in 1996) for 10th place in Tennessee all-time single-season touchdown passes with 21.
College football fans can visit the Allstate Sugar Bowl Facebook page to cast their vote for the best performance from this past weekend. When voting closes Thursday at noon ET, the top vote-getter will be announced as the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week.
A complete list of this week’s honorees can be viewed at allstatesugarbowl.org.
Hooker Named Manning Award Star of the Week
