Will Hammond Named Texas Tech Starting Quarterback

The Quarterback Switch

Texas Tech has a new starting quarterback. Head coach Joey McGuire confirmed after Friday night's game that Will Hammond will be the team's starting quarterback going forward.

Tommy Castellanos started the game against No. 22 Houston, but his night quickly went off script. Castellanos, a transfer who previously played for Florida State and Boston College, threw an interception on the opening drive. He was trying to throw the ball away while under pressure. Hammond came into the game immediately after that turnover.

Fighting Back for the Win

The No. 13 Red Raiders had a rough start to their first Friday night home game since 1941. They fell behind 10-0 early. In fact, Texas Tech had run only one offensive snap by the time nine and a half minutes had ticked off the clock.

Hammond helped steady the offense. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 257 yards and scored one touchdown through the air. His play helped Texas Tech secure a 28-26 victory, keeping their record perfect at 3-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Castellanos did return briefly later in the half. He did not take another snap until he ran for a three yard touchdown with 3:39 remaining in the second quarter.

McGuire Explains the Plan

Coach McGuire clarified the situation after the game. He made it clear that Hammond has earned the top spot, but Castellanos will still be involved in the offense.

"Will Hammond is our starting quarterback. We have packages for Tommy and those packages will continue to grow," McGuire said.

McGuire also explained that the team had a specific plan for the opening of the game. He noted that they had two plays they wanted to run right away. If they had not faced pressure, McGuire believed they would have had a massive play. The plan was always to run those two plays and then bring Hammond into the game.

Hammond's Path Back

Hammond was originally expected to be the starter this season. However, his status was clouded after he suffered an ACL injury last October.

The team also dealt with offseason drama surrounding transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby. Sorsby was expected to start but was declared ineligible following an NCAA gambling investigation.

Hammond faced no setbacks during his rehabilitation. He was fully recovered and ready for the start of the season, and now he officially holds the starting job.