Redshirt senior Hendon Hooker as started the last three games for Tennessee at quarterback.
He is 61-of-89 for 838 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and one interception.
The 6-foot-4, 218-pound Hooker has totaled 216 rushing yards on 46 attempts, while scoring two touchdowns.
Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh met with media Tuesday and discussed Hooker’s performance and becoming the Vols’ starting quarterback.
“I don’t know if anything has surprised me, I thought through spring and through camp there was a calm demeanor about him,” Golesh said of Hooker. “There was a sense of collectedness, a sense of maturity. Good or bad, whatever happened, the response was always the same. It’s exactly what you want from a player, it’s what players want from us coaches — be the same guy every day. That’s what Hendon is.
“He has really, really been efficient in how he has played. He’s been able to hand the ball of when he is supposed to. He’s been able to throw the ball when he is supposed to. He’s given us a really good element in the run-game, in terms of him being able to run the ball. What you didn’t know through spring and summer – because (quarterbacks) are in a red jersey and you can’t hit them – it’s how tough he is. He is a certifiable dude in terms of toughness. He runs the ball extremely hard, sometimes if you ask (Joey Halzle) he needs to be smarter in how he is finishing runs. I think, from the outside looking in, it’s awesome that he is diving head-first sometimes, like a little bit chaotic there, that’s your quarterback on the ground. I think he brings a spark, and the way he plays, everybody else around him sees that and they feed off of him.”
[vertical-gallery id=47341]