Several QBS are Hooker’s Heisman big competition
Get ready for comparisons of Hendon Hooker’s Heisman Trophy campaign to Peyton Manning’s 25 years ago.
It’s inevitable.
They’re both record-breaking Tennessee quarterbacks with sterling reputations, great performances, big wins and one regular-season loss during their senior season.
But don’t miss this key difference. Manning lost to Michigan defensive back Charles Woodson and competed with Marshall wide receiver Randy Moss and four running backs in his Heisman race. Manning was left off 22% of ballots, in part, because votes were spread among players at other positions.
But quarterbacks are Hooker’s primary competition. According to most betting odds, nine of the top 10 candidates are quarterbacks. Running back Blake Corum — coincidentally, from Michigan — is the outlier.
The apples-to-apples comparison of quarterbacks will make it easier for some Heisman voters but harder for others. With so many options, voters must consider how a quarterback is judged.
Hooker’s resume is built on stats and Tennessee’s No. 1 offense
Hooker is ranked No. 2 in FBS in passing efficiency (181.8) and leads the SEC in total offense (329.3 yards). He has guided the Vols to No. 1 in scoring offense and total offense.
“(Team stats) is where all my pride is,” Hooker said. “It’s not about individual accolades because that will come with the success of the team.
“We just want to win ball games. Any accolade that comes with that is cool.”
No. 5 Tennessee (9-1, 5-1 SEC) has the most top 10 wins (2) of any team in college football heading into its game at South Carolina (6-4, 3-4) on Saturday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
In a 52-49 win over No. 8 Alabama, Hooker had 441 yards of total offense and a career-high five TD passes in a Heisman-worthy performance. And he had 295 yards of total offense and two TDS in a 40-13 win over No. 7 LSU. He struggled in a 27-13 loss to Georgia, passing for 195 yards and one interception.
“(Hooker) is playing at as high of a level as anyone I’ve had, and I’ve had Heisman guys,” said Tennessee coach Josh Heupel, who coached Heismanwinning quarterbacks Jason White (2003) and Sam Bradford (2008) at Oklahoma.
“We don’t look like what we do offensively without him. He’s certainly deserving of being in that (Heisman) conversation.”
How Hooker compares in quarterback-heavy Heisman field
When White and Bradford won the Heisman, they were both among six quarterbacks in the top 10.
Heupel was the 2000 Heisman runner-up as Oklahoma’s quarterback. He finished behind Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke and ahead of Purdue quarterback Drew Brees.
This year’s finalists may all be quarterbacks. Here’s how Hooker stacks up against the others.
h Hooker (Tennessee): 71.1%, 2,888 pass yds., 24 TD, 2 INT, 9-1 record
h C.J. Stoud (Ohio State): 67.1%, 2,750 pass yds., 34 TD, 4 INT, 10-0 record
h Drake Maye (UNC): 70.1%, 3,412 pass yds., 34 TD, 3 INT, 9-1 record
h Caleb Williams (USC): 63.7%, 3,010 pass yds., 31 TD, 2 INT, 9-1 record
h Bo Nix (Oregon): 72.8%, 2,774 pass yds., 24 TD, 5 INT, 8-2 record
h Stetson Bennett (Georgia): 67.8%, 2,895 pass yds., 14 TD, 5 INT, 10-0 record
h Bryce Young (Alabama): 63.0%, 2,443 pass yds., 22 TD, 4 INT, 8-2 record
h Max Duggan (TCU): 65.9%, 2,531 pass yds., 25 TD, 2 INT, 10-0 record
h Jayden Daniels (LSU): 68.9%, 2,080 pass yds., 14 TD, 2 INT, 8-2 record
Reach Adam Sparks at adam.sparks@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @Adamsparks.