The Falcons have hosted several quarterbacks from the 2023 draft class. Will Levis and Anthony Richardson have or will visit Flowery Branch before the draft at the end of the month, and Ryan Fowler reports the club will host yet another signal caller — Hendon Hooker.
Following his final Top 30 visit tomorrow with the Giants, Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker has private meetings scheduled with the Atlanta Falcons and LA Rams in Knoxville, per source.
He’s in Washington today where he’s spent the morning alongside OC Eric Bieniemy.
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) April 18, 2023
Before Tennessee, Hooker led Virginia Tech to a bowl game thanks to his 1,500+ passing yards and 18 total touchdowns to only two interceptions. He returned in 2020 but only appeared in eight games. During his career with the Hokies, Hooker completed 63.1% of his passes for 2,894 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions over 21 total games, adding 1,033 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.
He then transferred to Tennessee, where he would back up Joe Milton, but an injury opened the door for Hooker to take the reins. A breakout season saw Hooker throw for 2,945 yards and 31 touchdowns to just three interceptions, adding 616 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Thanks to an extra COVID year of eligibility, Hooker had a Heisman-esque campaign in 2022, putting the Volunteers back on the map.
Hooker threw for 3,135 yards and 27 touchdowns to just two interceptions, adding 430 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, but a late-season ACL tear ended Tennessee’s magical year. The 25-year-old still needs some seasoning, but he showed he was capable of leading an offense with a competent coordinator and supporting cast.
There’s a lot to like about Hendon Hooker, and the Falcons are clearly completing their due diligence on the entire crop of quarterbacks in this class. Nobody should be surprised if Atlanta lands a signal caller to compete with Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke in training camp. The role would likely be as a practice squad player unless the Falcons kept three quarterbacks during the season.
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