COLUMBIA, S.C – Josh Heupel did not have an update on Hendon Hooker after the Tennessee quarterback was injured in the Volunteers’ 63-38 loss at South Carolina.
“We will evaluate him when we get back,” Heupel said.
The Vols quarterback went down for a 1-yard loss in the fourth quarter and stayed down on the field. He was stringing out an option play when his left leg buckled, and he went down without contacting a defender.
Hooker walked off the field with assistance. He left for the locker room, limping and walking slowly, after being evaluated in the injury tent on the Tennessee sideline.
“It was probably one of the worst things I have seen out there,” offensive lineman Jerome Carvin said. “Just to know how hard he works. Probably the hardest-working guy I have ever played with.”
The play was ruled a fumble after review. South Carolina took over with the ball at the UT 17-yard line while leading 49-31. The Gamecocks scored again to take a 56-31 lead. Joe Milton entered on the following UT drive and played the remainder of the game.
Hooker had thrown three touchdown passes. Cedric Tillman caught a 3-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-goal play. Bru McCoy snagged a 7-yard score on a deflected pass. And Hooker threw a dart to Princeton Fant for a 41-yard scoring strike.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson.
