He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies and Tennessee Volunteers, where he was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022.

Hooker attended James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina.

[6] After visiting Virginia Tech's campus, Hooker committed to them in 2016, stating, "When we set foot on the big stage, on that game field, it just felt right".

[4] Hooker was named the starter in 2019 after their current quarterback Ryan Willis threw seven interceptions in four games.

[18][19] During his career with Virginia Tech, he started 15 of 25 games, completing 197 of 312 passes for 2,894 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

[24] Hooker came into the game in relief and helped lead Tennessee to a close loss to the Panthers.

[38] Tennessee's successful start to the season gave them a #6 ranking to set up an undefeated showdown with longtime rival #3 Alabama.

[42] All of Hooker's passing touchdowns in the Alabama game went to future Biletnikoff Award winner Jalin Hyatt.

[49][50] Hooker’s collegiate career came to an abrupt end against South Carolina when he suffered a torn ACL in a non contact injury in the fourth quarter of the 63–38 loss.

[51] In his second season with the Volunteers, Hooker started 11 games, completed 229 of 329 attempted passes for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Tennessee's 11 wins, of which Hooker was the starting quarterback for nine of them, were the most for the program since 2001 and tied for the second-most in school history.

[64][65] On October 13, 2024, Hooker made his NFL debut in Week 6 of the 2024 season, relieving starter Jared Goff in the fourth quarter of a 47–9 blowout victory against the Dallas Cowboys.

[69][71] Hooker is a Christian, stating it was a "blessing" to have parents who got him and his siblings to be active in church at an early age.

He says his dad’s influence and mentorship while serving in the youth ministry at their church has helped him understand he "can use the game [football] to spread the message of Jesus Christ".