Hendon Hooker was 'raised to play quarterback' (Exclusive interview)

I recently got the chance to sit down with Detroit Lions rookie quarterback, Hendon Hooker, to talk all things football (and golf) right at the end of rookie camp.

It too me by surprise to find out Hooker, who is partnered with PXG golf clubs, is an avid golfer himself.

"I've been playing golf for a very long time," Hooker said. "My grandfather he taught me, my brother, and sister growing up. My mom is a huge advocate of playing golf in general."

When talking about football, I asked him about his motto of "get better every day" and how that's going to help him keep his focus heading into his rookie season behind the Lions starter, Jared Goff.

"I'm a junkie for work and a junkie for getting better," he said. "I don't know how to sit still. After we get off the phone here I'm going to go get some work in.

"It's just who I am and who I was raised to be. My parents are the same way. From a young age we were getting up early. My dad doesn't do the 'sleep in' [thing]. Sleeping in is 7 o'clock. Getting up early and getting to it and not wasting any days. It's a short window of opportunity so you gotta capitalize on anything that you're doing. If you want anything you gotta work for it, so that's all I know. Every day is get better or you get worse."

I also asked him who gives him inspiration and motivation to keep working every day.

"My family," Hooker said. "Just all around how much my parents have sacrificed for me, my sister, she's my client manager, she is amazing. She does a lot of things and goes out of her way to do those things. Them and then my little brother, he's looking up to me so I have to take every step with the thought of him in the back of my mind."

One thing I felt Hooker didn't get enough credit for in college was a lack of turnovers. He threw just 12 interceptions in his college career, including only five in his two years with Tennessee. He credits that to being raised to play the position.

"It's been like that my life," Hooker said. "Since a little kid, I always knew when the play was over. Use my legs, throw it away. I remember from a young age, people were like 'you know how to play quarterback', like yeah, I've been raised to play quarterback. My mom would play quarterback if she could."

Be sure to watch the full interview above as we talked about a variety of topics, including transitioning to NFL life with the Lions.