This has become the biggest conversation in Lubbock and across the nation over the past 24 hours with the news that quarterback Brendan Sorsby would take a medical leave of absence to seek treatment for a gambling addiction. While Texas Tech is supporting Sorsby, the team will also need to begin looking at contingency plans.
Unfortunately for the team, there are no spring transfer portal windows any longer, so that avenue is gone. Any “ghost” transfers, such as a player just enrolling at Tech to play, would result in a six-game suspension for the head coach and a fine. Likely rules that out.
For head coach Joey McGuire and offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich, the relief will have to come in the form of a player currently on the roster. That option also has its own issues, given the health of Will Hammond, who has made three starts in two seasons for the Red Raiders.
The precedent for the magnitude of gambling that Sorsby is facing is a permanent ban of college athletics, which means he would lose his remaining eligibility. Unless there is a saving grace for Sorsby out there, it might be time to prepare for life without him in Lubbock.
Quarterback Room following Brendan Sorsby’s news
This isn’t the situation that anyone could have foreseen ahead of the 2026 college football season, but it is the hand they were dealt. As of right now, this is how the quarterback could look for the upcoming season.
Projected Starter: Will Hammond, Redshirt Sophomore
This should come with an asterisk next to his name. Hammond was the backup to Behren Morton a year ago before suffering a torn ACL against Oklahoma State last fall in the 42-0 win. It was the second game in which he would start for the injured Morton. Fast-forward to this offseason: Hammond still has not been cleared to participate in offseason workouts, but reports indicate he has begun throwing. The former four-star signee is on schedule to return by Week 3 against the Houston Cougars, who are the toughest opponent on the Red Raiders schedule.
Hammond gets the projected nod since he is the only passer with starting experience in OC Mack Leftwich’s system.
Projected First Backup: Lloyd Jones III, Redshirt Freshman
Jones joined the team last year as a 2025 class signee. He was limited due to recovering from a high school knee injury. Jones threw for two touchdowns, both to Micah Hudson, in the season finale against West Virginia. The redshirt freshman has a bright future with the Red Raiders, provided he sticks with the program in this transfer portal era of college football. The experience is lacking, but if the Red Raiders just need a bridge to get to Hammond, once he is cleared to play, this could be the move for the team.
Projected Second Backup: Kirk Francis, Junior
Francis comes over from the University of Tulsa, which played in the American Conference. Francis has played in 18 games in three seasons with 3,045 yards and 18 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. The transfer does bring experience, which could come in handy given how raw Hammond still is as a quarterback. Francis is the grandson of Sam Francis, the 1936 Heisman Trophy runner-up to Larry Kelley of Yale.
Projected Third Backup: Holden Phillips, Redshirt Freshman
Phillips is the local product who played at nearby Frenship High School. Phillips had to wait his turn in high school when former Texas Tech quarterback Donovan Smith and others came before him. He led the state of Texas in passing yards in a 10-2 campaign for the Tigers. Phillips appeared in just one game, the 42-0 win over Oklahoma State.
Projected Fourth Backup: Stephen Cannon, True Freshman
Cannon comes in at the bottom as a true freshman, but he has the opportunity to work his way up the depth chart. For now, he will come in and learn. Cannon led his high school team, Benedictine Military School, to the state quarterfinals during his junior season and the 4A Georgia state championship game in his senior season.
This article originally appeared on Red Raiders Wire: Breaking down how the QB room looks following Brendan Sorsby news
Reporting by Patrick Conn, Red Raiders Wire / Red Raiders Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
