Tag: Virginia Tech

Lions draft QB Hendon Hooker in 3rd round; he’s coming off torn ACL

ALLEN PARK — The Lions moved down in the third round on Friday and selected 25-year-old quarterback Hendon Hooker who played at Tennessee.

It’s likely Hooker dropped down the draft board because he’s coming off an ACL tear that occurred on Nov. 19. Jared Goff is the Lions’ starter but they needed to add a quarterback along with Goff and Nate Sudfeld.

Hooker said he’s looking forward to working with Goff and learning from him.

“I’ll be a sponge, come in and learn every nuance of how to be a pro. Just admire him,” Hooker said on Friday night. “He’s been in the league for a long time and he’s been doing a great job of developing every year…and that’s all you can ask for.”

Hooker, who is 6-foot-3 and 217, was an early Heisman favorite in 2022, eventually winning SEC Offensive Player of the Year and being named a third-team Associated Press All-American. He threw for 3,135 yards (229-329-69.6%) and 27 scores (against just two interceptions) and rushed for 430 yards (104 carries, 4.1 per) and five touchdowns in 11 starts before he suffered a torn left ACL that ended his season.

He said he’s taking his knee rehab day by day and didn’t give a projected date on when he could return to the field. “When I’m ready to rock ‘n’ roll it’s going to be a site to see,” said Hooker who met with the team in Allen Park during the pre-draft process.

Hooker has a long-time connection with Lions GM Brad Holmes who played with his dad, Alan, at North Carolina A&T.

At Tennessee, Hooker led the nation’s top offense with an FBS-best 9.53 yards per pass attempt. He also ranked second in pass efficiency (175.5) and seventh in completion percentage in 2022 and set Tennessee records by throwing 261 passes without an interception and recording a touchdown pass in 20 straight games.

Hooker started his college career at Virginia Tech and took over the quarterback role at Tennessee in 2021.

Hooker’s NFL.com draft prospect bio reads: “Hooker’s age and ACL tear will be starting points for many draft conversations, but the most important question to be answered is whether he can thrive outside of the Tennessee offense. Hooker was frequently a half-field reader, which means he could lean on spacing, speed and/or route combinations to make life easier. He’s more accurate outside the numbers than between the hashes and his deep ball placement was much more uneven than expected. However, Hooker plays with excellent poise and footwork as a pocket passer. He will make quarterback coaches and play-callers happy with his adherence to keeping plays on schedule. He’s still showing signs of improvement and growth at the position, and his ability to hurt teams with his legs creates opportunities to help his offense outside of what he does in the pocket. His recovery from the ACL tear will require monitoring, but he has the talent to become a starter in a timing-based, spread offense.’’

Lions draft TE James Mitchell in fifth round

The Lions drafted tight end James Mitchell (Virginia Tech) in the fifth round (177th overall) on Saturday.

He is the second Lions draft pick who is recovering from ACL surgery after injuring his knee in the second game of the 2021 season

“I’m pretty much back. I’m doing everything – I’m running, cutting, running routes, I’m expecting to be fully cleared by June at the latest,’’ Mitchell said. “I’ll be ready to go at training camp. I’m excited.’’

He said he talked with the Lions at the Combine and besides that they had talked with my agent about maybe getting something done after the draft if he wasn’t selected. 

“So when they called me right there towards the end of round five and said they were going to take me I was pretty shocked but very grateful and excited to go there and get started,’’ said Mitchell who is 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds.

He said at Virginia Tech he was used all over the field.

“I became a better blocker as the years went on. I pride myself on playing all over the field, I’m happy to continue to go and learn behind a guy like T.J. Hockenson and soak it all in,’’ Mitchell said in a conference call with reporters.

Mitchell played in just the first two games of the 2021 season. In 2019 (21-361-17.2, two TDs in 13 games, eight starts) and then led the team with four receiving touchdowns in 2020 (26-435-16.7 in 10 games, nine starts)

The NFL.com draft preview said: Mitchell has the foot agility and athleticism to separate on a regular basis if he can tighten up his route running and play closer to his top speed. He’s capable of attacking the seams and is talented with the ball in his hands when he has run-after-catch opportunities. As a run blocker, Mitchell puts in adequate effort but his man ends up near the action or making a play on too many snaps. He has the size to play in-line but might be best suited in a role as a pass-catching H-back.’’