Alan Hendon Hooker started his college career with the Virginia Hokies before he transferred to Tennessee for his last two years of college ball. Hooker immediately transcended into one of college football’s most exciting quarterbacks. He suffered an unfortunate ACL tear and at 25 years old some would count him out. However, I wouldn’t and furthermore, I would keep an eye on him because he could start for an NFL franchise sooner than later.
Strengths
He’s truly the jack of all trades and master of none in this class at the quarterback position. While some might see this as a negative, Hooker’s versatility is a huge strength. He has the ability to make any throw on the field and can create with both his legs and arm. His all-around ability makes him a well-rounded quarterback who can adapt to different situations.
Hooker’s accuracy on short and intermediate throws is one of his biggest strengths. He can fit the ball into tight windows with precision and is able to consistently hit his receivers in stride. Hooker’s ability to throw accurately and with velocity when outside of the pocket or on the run is a valuable asset. He can throw from different arm angles and doesn’t need to be perfectly set to make a play.
Hooker’s ability to create with his legs is another strength. He has good footwork and is able to evade pressure in the pocket or make plays on the run. He can also use his mobility to extend plays and keep defenses guessing. He has a knack for making plays in big moments. He is a confident player who rises to the occasion when his team needs him most.
Hooker is a smart quarterback who doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He is able to read defenses and make quick decisions with the ball, which helps him avoid turnovers.
Weaknesses
While Hooker has good arm strength and can make deep throws, he tends to put more drive than touch on the ball. This can lead to overthrows or inaccurate passes downfield. Hooker can be a little too patient in the pocket at times, which can lead to sacks or missed opportunities. He also has a tendency to bail out of the pocket before fully assessing his options.
While Hooker’s accuracy on short and intermediate throws is a strength, he can be inconsistent on deeper throws. He also has some inconsistencies with his decision-making and can make questionable throws at times. Hooker suffered a torn ACL in November, which could raise some red flags for teams. Additionally, at 25 years old, he is older than most of the other prospects in the draft.
Grading
I graded Hendon Hooker a 2nd round talent and an early career starter. If he wasn’t coming off a torn ACL and he wasn’t 25 there’s a chance he would be in contention of going in the first round.
| QB Traits | Grade (0.1/10) |
| Short/Intermediate Accuracy | 8.7 |
| Outside the Pocket Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Deep Ball Accuracy | 7.6 |
| Off-Platform Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Arm Strength | 8.2 |
| Clutch Gene | 8.5 |
| Decision Making | 7.8 |
| Mobility | 8 |
| Pocket Presence | 7.9 |
| Ball Velocity | 8.2 |
| Overall | 79.9/100 |
|
Early Career Starter (2nd Round)
|
| ARCHETYPE |
| Balanced |
Summary
Overall, Hooker has the potential to be a legit franchise quarterback in the NFL. His versatility, accuracy, and mobility make him a valuable asset, and his ability to make plays in clutch situations is a big plus. However, he will need to work on his deep ball touch and pocket presence to take his game to the next level. Additionally, his injury history and age could be concerns for some teams.
Pro Comparison
Rich Gannon
I’ve seen people compare Hendon Hooker to Randall Cunningham but Hooker is not the athlete Cunningham was. However, he reminds of a pretty good QB I watched back in the day, Rich Gannon. Gannon was known for his well-rounded game but Gannon, like Hooker ran a decent bit. Gannon didn’t rely on the scramble drill but he could make things happen when he had to and his 21 rushing touchdowns and 2,421 rushing yards showcased that.
Hooker’s best comparison to me is Gannon because he’s not too athletic like Cunningham and I always looked at Gannon like one of those “jack of all trades” types just how I see Hooker in this draft. I just hope it doesn’t take Hooker as long as it took Gannon to get his shot.
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