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Former Tennessee standout from 2022 team parting ways with the Detroit Lions, but it's not who some Vol fans might be thinking

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Craig Smith | Last updated Aug 10, 2025 10:04 PM ET

The Detroit Lions have added a handful of former Tennessee Vols over the last few years as they've worked their way up the NFC pecking order. QB Hendon Hooker, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, CB Cam Sutton, and CB Emmanuel Moseley all ended up in the Motor City in recent years. After the 2024 season, Hooker was the only one out of that group to remain on the roster.

Hooker did get a familiar face in the locker room recently, as the Lions also signed ex-Vols RB Jabari Small last month after putting him through a tryout. As it turns out, that reunion was short lived, as the Lions announced that they had waived small with the designation of an injury settlement.

Lions announce roster moves:

Placed OL Justin Herron, OL Colby Sorsdal and TE Kenny Yeboah on Reserve/Injured.

Waived RB Jabari Small with an injury settlement.

Signed OL Gunner Britton, OL Keaton Sutherland, TE Gunnar Oakes and RB Deon Jackson. pic.twitter.com/9mMVMu6qOo
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 10, 2025

Small and Hooker were headliners together for Tennessee in 2022, with the duo leading the Vols rushing and passing attacks. Small led all Tennessee running backs with 13 rushing touchdowns (to go along with 734 rushing yards) and Hooker had one of the best seasons in Tennessee history (69.6 completion percentage for 3135 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions) end with an unfortunate ACL tear against South Carolina, which almost certainly cut short a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

Hooker now stands alone as the final Vol in the Motor City, and with the way he's been playing lately, it could be a matter of time before his tenure with the Lions comes to an end. Hooker, who has yet to take that next step at the NFL level, called his own performance in the 34-7 preseason opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers a " zero out of ten ". He also struggled mightily on Friday night against James Pearce, Jr.'s Atlanta Falcons, going 7/10 for just 38 yards passing.

For the time being, he remains as the last of a number of ex-Vols wearing the Honolulu blue and silver. Hopefully a preseason turnaround will help that tenure continue for a while longer.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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