Former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker is officially on his way to the NFL as of Friday night.
While it took a little bit longer than some expected, the Detroit Lions officially secured their quarterback of the future by drafting Hooker with the 68th overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Hooker was the fifth quarterback taken off the board and was picked behind Kentucky quarterback Will Levis (Tennessee Titans) on Day Two.
The Vols’ quarterback is also one of five Tennessee players that have been selected before the fourth round: Darnell Wright at No. 10, Hendon Hooker at No. 68, Jalin Hyatt at No. 73, Cedric Tillman at No. 74, and Byron Young at No. 77.
Here’s a look at some of the big reactions from social media after Hendon Hooker was officially selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
More from RTI: Darnell Wright Becomes First Vol Drafted in the First Round
With the 68th overall pick in the 2023 #NFLDraft, the Detroit @Lions selected quarterback Hendon Hooker, University of Tennessee pic.twitter.com/VoCU1uZw9f
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) April 29, 2023
WHAT A LANDING SPOT for Hendon Hooker. He blew away coaches at the combine in his meetings, can make every throw, is decisive in the passing game and when to run. He needs a year to fully recover from the ACL injury and can do that behind Jared Goff. His deep ball is a BEAUTY.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 29, 2023
At pick No. 68 in round three, the Detroit Lions select Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker.
Lions’ QB Jared Goff has two years left on his contract. None of the money in 2024 is guaranteed.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2023
Detroit is an absolutely perfect landing spot for Hendon Hooker. Good for him.
— Will Boling (@will_boling) April 29, 2023
Hendon Hooker is the highest drafted @Vol_Football QB since Peyton Manning in 1998.
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) April 29, 2023
Hendon Hooker is better than Will Levis. Happy for him, but would have loved to see Hooker play in Nashville. Vol Nation is not happy.
— Big Game Boomer (@BigGameBoomer) April 28, 2023
Hendon Hooker is the earliest Detroit Lions QB draft pick since they took Matthew Stafford No. 1 overall in 2009. pic.twitter.com/imFbeIjM7J
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 29, 2023
Hendon Hooker?! pic.twitter.com/gbsseupDjy
— Just Lions Things (@LionsThings) April 29, 2023
WAIT WE DRAFTED HENDON HOOKER?!?!?
— King (@SevensTheKing) April 29, 2023
Rooting for you, Hendon Hooker. Welcome to Detroit. pic.twitter.com/p9A7xRsb8e
— DLB (@DetLionBlood) April 29, 2023
With the 68th overall pick in the 2023 @NFLDraft, the @Lions have selected @Vol_Football QB @henhook2.
Hooker was named the 2022 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, leading the FBS in avg. yards per pass attempt (9.53) and ranking 2nd in pass efficiency (175.5).#OnePride pic.twitter.com/Adc55G8N3M
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) April 29, 2023
Ok @Lions Where can I get a Hendo Jersey?
— Audrey Caylor~TRUST NO ONE 🍊🐝 (@C6E_MUSIC) April 29, 2023
Former Titans fan, now Lions fan what y’all hashtag ?😂😂 #OnePride
— Dub Beezy (@austinthetrik) April 29, 2023
Y’all accepting bandwagon fan applications?
— Cody Browñ (@OfficialDTCB) April 29, 2023
I believe Hendon Hooker will be better than Will Levis, whose poise and command never sold me. Some Jake Locker there. Some Wentz, Paxton Lynch. But I guess Vrabel likes him a lot more than he does Malik Willis.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 28, 2023
HENDON HOOKER IS A DETROIT LION
LEGEND. THANK YOU. 🧡 pic.twitter.com/cEa6ker2fy
— Barstool Rocky Top (@BarstoolTenn) April 29, 2023
Ok Hendon hooker, Jameson Williams, and Jahmir Gibbs is a trio I can definitely get behind. Don’t know anything about this Sam LaPorta dude to include him
— Dave Gardiner II (@IvorianDaveee) April 29, 2023
For any angry Titans fans, Lions current players that are VFLs: Cam Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley, Jaylen Reeves -Maybin, and Hendon Hooker! All Lions! Good team to cheer for!
— Jim (@JimRGoVols) April 29, 2023
Detroit Lions have one playoff game win over the last 60+ years.
One.
But they are building a really nice looking roster and they almost made the playoffs last year.
Hendon Hooker could be in worse spots.— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagi) April 29, 2023
Tennessee Football's #NFLDraft Third Round so far:
-QB Hendon Hooker to the Detroit Lions (No. 68)
-WR Jalin Hyatt to the New York Giants (No. 73)
-WR Cedric Tillman to the Cleveland Browns (No. 74)
-EDGE Byron Young to the Los Angeles Rams (No. 77)A run of Vols in the third.
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) April 29, 2023
When the Titans think Levis is the better draft pick than Hendon Hooker pic.twitter.com/3dZ5bZS46c
— Justin stokely (@jcstokely) April 28, 2023
