Tennessee has fielded some excellent football teams during the program’s 130-year history. But despite turning out talented players like Peyton Manning, Jason Witten, Carl Pickens, and Reggie White, it has not produced one thing — a Heisman Trophy winner.
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Could quarterback Hendon Hooker become the program’s first? Hooker is a long shot, but so is every player not named CJ Stroud or Bryce Young.
Hendon Hooker Heisman Trophy Odds — Vols QB is a Longshot
The following table is a partial list of the players listed at the top of most betting boards at Tennessee Sportsbooks:
| Player | DraftKings | BetMGM | Caesars | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CJ Stroud, Ohio State | +220 | +200 | +200 | +200 |
| Bryce Young, Alabama | +380 | +350 | +430 | +400 |
| Caleb Williams, Southern California | +700 | +600 | +700 | +600 |
| Will Anderson Jr., Alabama | +1600 | +2000 | +2200 | +3000 |
| Bijan Robinson, Texas | +2200 | +1600 | +2500 | +4000 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State | +2500 | +3000 | +4000 | +5000 |
| Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma | +3000 | +2000 | +2500 | +3000 |
| Tyler Van Dyke, Miami | +3500 | +2500 | +3500 | +4000 |
| TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State | +3500 | +2000 | +2000 | +3400 |
| Quinn Ewers, Texas | +3500 | +2000 | +3500 | +5000 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama | +3500 | +3000 | +2400 | +5000 |
| Anthony Richardson, Florida | +4000 | +2000 | +5000 | +6000 |
| Hendon Hooker, Tennessee | +4000 | +5000 | +6000 | +6000 |
While the competition in front of Hooker may make it seem unlikely Tennessee’s quarterback has a chance, there are a few things bettors should remember about Heisman Trophy winners:
- Preseason betting favorites rarely win. The only one to do so in the last decade was Oregon QB Marcus Mariota in 2014.
- There has only been one repeat winner; Ohio State running back Archie Griffin (1974 and 1975).
- A defensive player has never won. Michigan DB Charles Woodson did win in 1997, but he also returned kicks and lined up at wide receiver.
- Only three wide receivers have won.
- Quarterbacks have won five of the last six and 18 since 2000.
- Four of the last five quarterbacks to win had preseason odds of +1000 or higher. Three had preseason odds of +3000 or higher.
What does all this mean? Hooker may not be a household name like Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, or Will Anderson, but history favors quarterbacks. Don’t count Hooker out because his odds are long.
Can Hendon Hooker Become Vols’ First Heisman Trophy Winner?
Heisman voters like to get wowed. They want to see someone rise from the depths of the unknown and force them to pay attention. That is hard for many positions to do, but not for quarterbacks. As the focal point of the offense, quarterbacks are in a great spot to impact games, pile up stats, and become must-see TV for voters.
While Tennessee’s record was not impressive last season, Hooker racked up some solid numbers with 2,945 yards passing, a 68.2% completion rate, 31 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Bryce Young had more yards by far (4,872), but Hooker was more accurate and had fewer interceptions. Hooker was also the Vols’ second-leading rusher with 616 yards (47.4 yards per game) and scored five rushing touchdowns.
But stats alone will not make him a Heisman winner. He has to guide Tennessee to wins. The more that can come against marquee programs like Alabama and Georgia, the better. It is not necessary to go undefeated, but no one will vote for a guy on a 7, 8, or even 9-win team.
Josh Heupel’s high-octane offense will give Hooker the chance to produce Heisman-like numbers. Tennessee’s SEC schedule will give Hooker the opportunity to win some big games against some of college football’s best teams (i.e., Alabama and Georgia).
If he can produce and beat Alabama and Georgia, Hooker could win the Heisman this year.
Betting Analysis
Tennessee will be a better, more competitive team in 2022, but to expect them to beat the likes of Alabama and Georgia may be asking a bit much. However, if the Vols record a pair of epic upsets, Hooker’s name will undoubtedly be at the forefront of the Heisman conversation.
Does that mean you should bet on him?
That’s a question every bettor has to answer on their own. But it may not be a bad idea for new bettors to use a portion of the bonus that comes with the FanDuel Tennessee Promo Code to bet on Hooker. All you have to do is place a $5 wager on any betting market, and you will receive $150 in free bets.
At +6000, a $25 free bet could turn into a $1,500 payday!
Article contributed by Travis Pulver | Photo: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
