Pro Day Journal, Tennessee: Hendon Hooker Cheers On Teammates
For the next month, the question of who will be the Indianapolis Colts' next quarterback will dominate the team's narrative.
Most believe the answer to that question lies ahead in the 2023 NFL Draft, as C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis can all make a compelling argument to be picked within the first five selections. Hendon Hooker has also been garnering first-round buzz as of late.
The latter doesn't get the same pre-draft experience as his cohorts while he rehabs an ACL injury suffered late in the regular season. However, Hooker was still in the house on Thursday to observe and support his teammates.
Horseshoe Huddle's Jake Arthur was in attendance and brings you his thoughts from the day.
For starters, the following is a list of NFL-eligible players present for the pro day, whether or not they fully participated:
Quarterback Hendon Hooker, offensive tackle Darnell Wright, wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, wide receiver Cedric Tillman, edge defender Byron Young, offensive lineman Jerome Carvin, linebacker Jeremy Banks, punter Paxton Brooks, tight end Princeton Fant, defensive back Trevon Flowers, defensive lineman LaTrell Bumphus, linebacker Solon Page III, defensive lineman Maurese Smith, and kicker Chase McGrath
—Colts midwest area scout Mike Lacy continues to be a busy man, as HH has seen him at the pro days for Ohio State, Kentucky, and now Tennessee.
—As previously mentioned, Hooker's knee injury kept him from working out, but he was still there to cheer on his teammates. He also got some practice throws in with receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman before the live throwing session.
— Speaking of Hyatt and Tillman, the pair had a really solid day. Hyatt didn't run the 40, as speed is far from a concern of his game (ran a 4.40 at the Scouting Combine). Tillman did run, however, and although I don't have a time for him, he did look smooth running. Both players worked out well during the pass-catching session, with only one drop on the day coming from Hyatt. The pair ran a mix of short, intermediate, and long routes, with each displaying strong hands and the ability to make tough catches along the sideline.
—Darnell Wright and Jerome Carvin had a long positional session but looked good doing it. While Carvin looked perfectly fine, moved well, and displayed power, Wright looked like an early pick with how he performed. Everything he did was just sort of eye-grabbing. Wright showed really quick feet but also covered quite a bit of ground fast with his kick slide. He also displayed a really good punch on the bags.
— Similar to the offensive line, the defensive side had a pair of quality performances during positional drills with Byron Young and LaTrell Bumphus. The latter moved smoothly and looks like a player that can be used inside and out, but Young was explosive. He came off the snap quickly, showed speed and bend, and he changed direction seamlessly.
More Pro Day Journals
- Ohio State: C.J. Stroud Leaves Onlookers Gushing
- Alabama: Bryce Young Shines as NFL Looks On
- Kentucky: Will Levis Wows with His Arm Strength
- Notre Dame: Isaiah Foskey States 1st-Round Case
- Maryland: Rakim Jarrett Impresses in Workout
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