He and Alston have written a faith-based children's book called 'The ABCs of Scripture for Athletes.' Fred Whitfield is watching. 'There were stickers all over Greensboro … saying, 'Hooker for Heisman,'' his son said.Īt the advanced football age of 24, Hooker is playing for so much more than himself. They show Alan becoming the 1986 Black College Football offensive player of the year. Of course, there are grainy VHS tapes laying around the Hooker home as a reminder of something bigger. Hendon has become a national story, not witnessing this much adulation since his early days at VT. Holston is a redshirt senior running back still with the Hokies. On that night, Hooker convinced friend Jalen Holston to commit to Virginia Tech. The game played at Bristol Motor Speedway was witnessed by the largest crowd ever to see a college football game, 156,990. In 2016, he was in the stands when Virginia Tech and Tennessee met - irony of ironies - in the Battle of Bristol. Hooker visited Notre Dame and Oregon, among others. Then Wolfpack offensive coordinator Elijah Drinkwitz was the first coach to call Alan about his son. Out of Greensboro, North Carolina, Hooker was pursued by North Carolina, Wake Forest, South Carolina and NC State. Virginia Tech was the choice because of a warm reception and a vision of the future.

I had them in my top five coming out of high school.' 'After some games he would let me know, 'I saw the film, you look good.' He would give me some insight into what they were running that week. 'I always remember what Coach Heup saw in me at the time,' Hooker said. While at Mizzou, Heupel actually recruited Hooker. Heupel's had a chip on his own shoulder since being let go by Bob Stoops as OU's co-offensive coordinator seven years ago. As Missouri's offensive coordinator in 2017, Heupel oversaw Drew Lock leading the country in touchdown passes (44) while setting the SEC and Missouri single-season records. Eight years later, he was Sam Bradford's quarterbacks coach the year Bradford won the Heisman at OU. He was the runner-up for the trophy as Oklahoma's quarterback in 2000. It's easy to forget the 44-year-old has two Heisman Trophy references on his resume. Existential, yes, but Heupel seems to spread this kind of magic wherever he goes. Hooker calls Heupel 'the best coach in the America.' Heupel says he never had a player who understands the 'why' of it all. If the average of 48.5 points per game holds up, it will be a school record. The Vols are averaging 5 59.3 yards per game. His career ratio (6.1-1) nearly triples the national average (2.2-1).Īfter finishing the 2021 season ranked third nationally in pass efficiency, Hooker is currently sixth in 2022. Since coming to Tennessee, he has thrown 39 touchdowns to only three picks. His streak of 212 consecutive passes without an interception has already smashed the school record by 46. Hooker picked up where he left off at Virginia Tech. In his career, Heupel leads all active coaches averaging 12.79 points per first quarter. Tennessee jumped on opponents hard and fast. In seven of the remaining 11 games, the Vols scored at least 45 points.

Then Tennessee truly morphed into Heupel's vision. Milton started the first two games of that 2021 season before Hooker took over. Unlike Manning, Hooker also got a win over the Gators. Only Heath Shuler (18) has thrown a TD in more consecutive games at Tennessee than Hooker (16 and counting).Īgainst Florida, Hooker posted the most yards passing against the Gators by a Vols quarterback since Peyton Manning in 1997.

Hendon goes into Saturday tied for the national lead with the most touchdown passes without an interception this season (11). Alston, like his father before him, is a quarterback at North Carolina A&T. Now we see those issues being resolved on Saturdays.

You remind me of a quarterback