The Texas Tech Red Raiders are set to start Will Hammond at quarterback this season, a scenario not many expected coming into the season. Hammond’s spot opened up after Brendan Sorsby departed the program, following his battle for eligibility.
With Tech being considered a frontrunner for the Big 12 title and a potential contender for a national championship, Hammond has a tremendous responsibility, especially after quarterback issues led to the team being shut out in their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance last season.
Due to the situation surrounding the job, along with Tech’s burgeoning position within the sport, Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde named Hammond as the fifth-most intriguing quarterback in college football this season.
“The Brendan Sorsby Era That Never Was at Tech will apparently default to the Hammond era, provided his surgically repaired knee is ready to go,” wrote Forde. “Hammond was a highly functional backup last year to Behren Morton on a Big 12 championship team, and was in position to fill the same role behind Sorsby until the Cincinnati transfer’s gambling scandal ended his college career.
“The well-bankrolled Red Raiders have assembled a roster with as much talent as almost anyone in college football—but the quarterback question looms large. Tech is hopeful that Hammond will be ready for the season opener, but if need be it could win with a backup for two weeks before hosting Houston on Sept. 18.”
Hammond is 1-2 as a starter, losing the 2024 Liberty Bowl to the Arkansas Razorbacks. Hammond is also coming off a torn ACL last season, putting into question his timeline for playing. However, Hammond is believed to be on pace to return before the conference opener.
“We never let those guys get ahead of schedule, but if you could say somebody is ahead of schedule, Will Hammond is ahead of schedule,” stated Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire to ESPN in May. “Will Hammond is a different human. When I recruited him out of high school, he was the most mature 18-year-old I’d ever been around in my life. … He’s really serious about his rehab and has done everything he’s supposed to do. We’ve got to hold him back.”
Since then, Hammond has been medically cleared and is expected to play in the Houston contest. However, Hammond could be back sooner, as his recovery continues to go as well as possible.
Contact/Follow us @RedRaidersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas Tech news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Red Raiders Wire: Will Hammond’s journey at Texas Tech has captivated college football
Reporting by Brock Vierra, Red Raiders Wire / Red Raiders Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brock Vierra, Red Raiders Wire | USA TODAY Network
