Louisville football: Players you need to know from Virginia Tech
By Jacob Lane
Hendon Hooker – QB
You can’t talk about the Virginia Tech offense without talking about starting quarterback Hendon Hooker.
Playing in just three games this season, Hooker has been unstoppable in some moments and flat out bad in other
In his second start of the season against , he went 11/15 overall with 111 yards passing and a TD to go along with an incredible 164 rushing yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns, leading Tech to an impressive 40-14 win.
He followed that up this past week against Wake Forest by going 17/33 passing for 223 yards, 1 touchdown and three interceptions in what was easily their most disappointing loss of the season. So which version of Hooker the Hokies get this weekend will determine just how potent the Virginia Tech offense will be.
It’s clear that Virginia Tech is going to favor the run play, putting a product on the field offensively that looks eerily similar to the Cards. You’ll see stretch plays in both directions that are used to set up the play-action passing game for Hooker. If Louisville can slow down Herbert, even in the slightest, it will make covering the pass much more easier for the secondary.
Much like with Florida State, defensive coordinator Bryan Brown will need his defensive line to fill gaps correctly and allow the speedy linebacker to put pressure on the quarterback. That in turn will allow the secondary to make plays on the ball and take advantage of Tech’s inability to consistently create separation. Even with that being said, the names at receiver don’t pop off as “household names,” but the potential is there for Hooker to connect on a big play in a blink of an eye.
Watch for Justin Fuentes to sell out on the run early in this game and test the Louisville defense, doing so in a variety of ways with both Herbert and Hooker. Then from there you’ll see the pass game incorporated as more guys commit to stopping the run.
Though he tossed three interceptions last weekend and already has five in three games, it’s not like Hooker isn’t a capable thrower. That means not even for one play can the secondary take “a play off” or else they’ll be put back into the social distancing defensive memes once again.
With productive receivers Tayvion Robinson and Tre Turner, as well as a dynamic tight end James Mitchell (leads Va. Tech in receiving yards) Hooker will make a defense pay (see what I did there?) if they go all in on the run, and Louisville must be cognizant of that at all times this weekend.