NASHVILLE – East Tennessee State’s Randy Sanders and Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker were voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Football Coach and Player of the Year, respectively, in awards announced this week for the 2021-22 academic year by the organization.
Sanders capped his coaching career by leading the Bucs to a program-record 11 wins. East Tennessee State won its first outright Southern Conference title and reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs for the second time in school history after being a No. 7 seed. The Bucs set single-season program records for most points scored (425), points per game (32.7), total offense (5,319), rushing touchdowns (32) and total touchdowns (53).
The Bucs opened their record-setting season dominating Vanderbilt, 23-3, in the season opener in Nashville, just the program’s second win all-time over a Power Five program. The Bucs also beat three nationally-ranked teams and reached No. 8 nationally for the program’s highest ranking since restarting the football program. Sanders guided the Bucs to their first postseason win in 25 years with a 32-31 victory over Kennesaw State in the second round.
Hooker became Tennessee’s first Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist since 2006 in helping Tennessee to a 7-6 record and a Music City Bowl berth after taking over as the starting quarterback in his first season at Tennessee. He set single-season school records for completion percentage (68.0) and passing efficiency (181.41) while also ranking first in the SEC and third nationally in passing efficiency. Hooker posted 3,561 yards of total offense and 36 touchdowns with only three interceptions. He completed 206-of-303 passes for 2,945 yards and 31 touchdowns and added 616 yards on 166 carries and five scores on the ground.
The coach and player awards will be handed out July 14 at the 2022 TSWA Hall of Fame ceremony.