The closer we get to the 2023 NFL Draft, the more draft experts are in agreement that University of Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker will be a late first-round pick.
Despite coming off a torn ACL, Hooker has reportedly impressed scouts and coaches at every step of the pre-draft process, and once they watch his tape, they’re even more blown away by his raw skill set.
Count former Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Martz among those captivated by Hooker, and during a recent film analysis video for The 33rd Team, Martz explained exactly why Hooker is being undervalued as a legitimate first-round prospect.
“I think mechanically he’s almost perfect,” Martz said. “He has a great base, bent knees, he’s always balanced, you’ll never see his feet come together, he has really strong legs.
“…There’s no hesitation in anything that he does. And his game speed is heading toward the game speed of the NFL in terms of his footwork and getting the ball out quickly. [His] ball location shocked me. I have not seen a college quarterback like this before where the ball is always on the body or out in front of (the receivers) where they can make the catch.”