The Texas Tech Red Raiders made a big splash when landing former Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby. On3 Industry Rankings listed him as the No. 10 player and No. 4 quarterback to hit the transfer portal this offseason.
However, his future with the Red Raiders is in question. He is under NCAA investigation for gambling and has hired a lawyer to try to regain his eligibility, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
If he is unsuccessful, the Red Raiders are expected to lean on Will Hammond as the starting quarterback. A former four-star recruit out of the 2024 cycle, he is entering his third year with the program.
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However, he is recovering from a torn ACL suffered on Oct. 25 against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. After being cleared for throwing sessions, though, Hammond's QB coach, Jeff Christensen, gave a promising update in an article from On3's Pete Nakos.
“Things are really, really good,” Christensen said. “Threw it really well today. The knee is getting better at a rapid pace; it’s going really well.”
Last season, Hammond appeared in eight games for the Red Raiders. He completed 69-of-109 passes for 680 yards, seven touchdowns, three interceptions and a 131.4 passer rating. He also rushed for 299 yards and five touchdowns on 43 attempts.
While his numbers were solid, he's never been relied on as Texas Tech's full-time starter. Up until news broke of Sorsby's investigation, he was once again expected to enter the season as a backup.
Now thrust into a potential starting role, Hammond faces increased pressure while also recovering from a season-ending injury. With Texas Tech opening the season against Abilene Christian on Sept. 5, it's unclear who will be under center.
Nakos noted that if neither Hammond nor Sorsby is available, Tulsa Golden Hurricane transfer Kirk Francis could earn the start.
