Hendon Hooker Not Being A Heisman Finalist Is Sickening And A Disgrace To The Award

I'm as genuinely incensed as I write this blog as I can recall being in quite some time. Hendon Hooker, who had an unbelievable season and led the top offense in the country by pretty much any metric you want to use, is not a Heisman Trophy finalist.

I would put Hendon's season up there against any one of these guys, but seeing Stetson Bennett on that list was when my rage went through the roof. Those two players are not in the same stratosphere, statistically or otherwise.

Wes Rucker nailed it. Just imagine what Hendon's numbers would have looked like this season with a five-star at every position on the offensive line and Brock Bowers catching passes for him. That statistical comparison you see is with Bennett playing 13 games and Hooker playing 11, by the way.

This is just sickening. This isn't the Best Player on the Best Team Award — not that Bennett should be in consideration for that, either, because he's probably not one of UGA's 10 best players. It's supposed to be an award which goes to the player "whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity" and who "epitomizes great ability combined with diligence, performance and hard work."

There is not a player in the country who embodies those qualities more than Hendon Hooker.

And I'm not even asking for him to win the damn thing! If you want to give this fraudulent award to Caleb Williams or CJ Stroud, go for it. They're fine football players. But to not include Hooker as a finalist after having one of the best statistical seasons in the country and reviving a college football program most of the country had left for dead — and doing it all while being an amazing person and leader — is wrong.

I will no longer be recognizing the Heisman Trophy as a legitimate award and I would encourage those with integrity and common sense to do the same.