It’s a damn shame that Hendon Hooker was not invited to New York for the 2022 Heisman ceremony. The simple fact that Hooker wasn’t even invited is enough to remind you that the Heisman award has become a complete joke.
The CFP committee obviously ranked the University of Tennessee behind Alabama because Hendon Hooker is hurt. For those in the back of the room, that means Hooker is really bleeping good. But the Heisman committee said hold my beer and defined the term, insult to injury. They are basically saying that because he tore his ACL in the SC game and he wasn’t able to play against Vanderbilt, they were leaving Hooker off of the finalist list.
Hooker deserves to be a Heisman finalist.
Heisman QB Candidates vs. Current Top 20 Total Defenses as of 12/2 ⤵️
Hooker (3-1, 1,273 yds, 11 TD)
Shroud (3-1, 1,259 yds, 12 TD)
Williams (0-2, 822 yds, 8 TD)
Maye (1-0, 449 yds, 5 TD)
Duggan (1-0, 215 yds, 3 TD)
Bennett (1-0, 141 yds, 1 TD)
Young, Penix (DNP) pic.twitter.com/fBSkyYITSM— Bill Martin (@Bill_Martin) December 3, 2022
Hooker had the number two overall QB rating in college football while playing the eighth toughest schedule. Won the AP ALL-SEC Offensive Player of the Year with 27 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. No player meant more to a team than what Hendon Hooker means for the University of Tennessee. Did the committee forget that drive against Bama?
Don’t forget: Hendon Hooker had the best Heisman moment of any player this season. pic.twitter.com/NkYOra6IxP
— zach ragan (@zachtnt) November 30, 2022
Yes, the Bennett story is cute and he will most likely win back-to-back National Championships. But Stetson Bennett wasn’t even 1st or 2nd team ALL-SEC! Bennett is surrounded by 5-star receivers and the number one defense in the country. In other words, they make him look really good. Bennett went four consecutive games without a TD pass this year! FOUR! And he’s Heisman finalist???
And don’t get me started on Ohio State’s CJ Stroud. Who did OSU beat this year??
I guess the selection committee forgot “must show integrity” is part of the Heisman criteria.
Caleb Williams writes expletives on his nails every week while Hendon Hooker wrote a bible-based children’s book. Who is Max Duggan? (Kidding, he’s the kid who ugly cries after losing.)
When you break down the numbers, here are Hendon Hooker’s stats against the four Heisman finalist from @RockyTopInsider:
It’s never been clearer how much the Heisman voters hate the University of Tennessee. Johnny Majors was robbed. Peyton Manning was robbed. And now, the biggest heist of the Heisman era is Hendon Hooker ROBBED by not even being invited! I’m biased, shocker. I also understand that you have win the season to win the Heisman. When Tennessee lost to South Carolina, Hookers chances of winning were done. But still, when you look at the compleat body of work, Hooker still has my vote. Caleb William’s lost the conference championship and USC dropped to #10. (Tennessee #6)
Hendon Hooker is the definition of everything that should be celebrated in college football. Want to know more about Hendon Hooker, check out my last post on him.
https://alisonstclair.com/thankful-for-hendon-hooker/
The Maxwell Award is presented to the best player in college football. The award is judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, NCAA head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club. Hooker, Stroud, and Williams are finalist. This is basically the Heisman without all the extra media hype. At least they were smart enough to include Hooker as a finalist. The winner of the Maxwell Award will be announced tonight at 7:00 pm on ESPN.
The 2022 Heisman winner will be announced on December 10th at 8:00 pm on ESPN, but I won’t be watching. Hooker is my Heisman winner.
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