College football power rankings: Top 25 quarterbacks for the 2022 season

Hendon Hooker, liner and sinker will be the plan of attack for Josh Heupel’s Vols

A big reason why Tennessee just might be the team that finishes in second place in the SEC East to Georgia is the play of the Vols starting quarterback Hendon Hooker. He made an instant connection with head coach Josh Heupel in their first season working together up on Rocky Top. It may not be enough to catch the Dawgs, but a nine-win season for the Vols is well within reach.

Until Tennessee can lean on its rushing attack, much of the Volunteers’ offense will be predicated on what Hooker can do from the quarterback position. For that reason, it gives a player like Hooker a ton of variance heading into this season. He could potentially be the second-best quarterback in the SEC if all goes according to plan. Hooker will need to be that if the Vols want a shot at the NY6.

Let’s see how good Hooker can be in the second season of running Heupel’s offense for the Vols.

If you squint your eyes, you might see some Lamar Jackson in Malik Cunningham

It remains to be seen what the Louisville Cardinals will be under head coach Scott Satterfield this season. This will be his fourth year on the job after doing sensational work at Appalachian State previously. Although the Cardinals play in the tougher of the two ACC divisions, he does have one of the better quarterbacks in the country in Malik Cunningham. Satterfield can lean on him, alright.

If you squint your eyes just a bit, you might think you are watching the next Lamar Jackson in Louisville uniform. While nobody will ever be the next Action Jackson for the Cards, it might be in the cards for Cunningham to play spoiler in the ACC Atlantic this season. Though they may not be favored against many of their biggest rivals, Louisville will have the stage to make things happen.

Should the Cardinals want to upset Clemson, NC State and Kentucky this fall, Cunningham is key.