WATCH: Peyton Manning Praises Hendon Hooker, Foresees Big Success

Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com recently caught up with NFL legend and former Tennessee Volunteer Peyton Manning. Manning has been around the Tennessee program since his departure in the late-90s and is plugged in with the current stars.

Peyton Manning on former @Vol_Football QB Hendon Hooker (@henhook2) and his NFL outlook.

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— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) February 6, 2023

Quarterback Hendon Hooker may have had the best career of any Tennessee signal caller since Manning. Though Hooker only spent two seasons on Rocky Top, he amassed eye-popping statistics. He led the Volunteers back to national prominence, an exceedingly difficult task when he arrived via the transfer portal.

An ACL injury derailed the end of his season, but Hooker has rebounded in the predraft process. He interviewed well at the Reese's Senior Bowl, and several insiders indicate that teams are high on his tape. There's a consensus top four quarterbacks on many draft boards: Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis.

While those names are ahead of Hooker now, Manning foresees big success for Hooker at the NFL level.

"Hendon will do well at the next level. Obviously, his injury was disappointing for the finish to the season, but he had an incredible year. I saw him down at bowl practice in Miami for the Orange Bowl; he said he thought he would be throwing by April. These ACL injuries, they can fix them sooner than they used to, so I don't really think that's going to be a factor for him. Whoever gets him on their roster is going to be lucky."

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