When Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire took over the program in late 2021, he immediately spoke of his plans to heavily recruit the state of Texas. A former high school coach himself, McGuire knew the importance of relationships within the Lone Star State.
His first full class at Texas Tech was full of Texas players the staff liked, including quarterback Will Hammond of Austin. But even McGuire has been surprised by Hammond’s early progression.
‘Never Seen a Freshman Do That’ – Texas Tech QB Will Hammond is the Talk of Big 12 Media Days
While all of the outside hype is on five-star receiver Micah Hudson, McGuire didn’t shy away from hyping up his freshman quarterback, as well.
“Will Hammond had an absolutely incredible spring,” McGuire said. “To give you an idea, he threw 25 touchdowns and only four interceptions in every competitive throw in the spring. I’ve never seen a freshman do that. He was with the 1s, 2s, and 3s … He did it against everybody.”
While not the most high-rated recruit in McGuire’s first full class, Hammond was ranked the 195th overall prospect in the country, per On3’s composite rankings system, out of Hutto High School and outside of Austin.
While he’s likely to back up Behren Morton, Hammond already looks like a potential quarterback of the future.
Recruiting the Lone Star State
Hammond was one of five top 200 players in the Red Raiders’ top-ranked Big 12 recruiting class, all from the Texas high school football ranks.
When McGuire took the Texas Tech job, he vowed to succeed in recruiting one of the most fertile and competivie recruiting regions in the country.
One class in, it looks like McGuire is keeping his promise, landing — among others — the five-star Hudson from Lake Belton High School. McGuire kept it brief when asked about Hudson, calling him a generational player and saying he would “absolutely” play in Week 1.
Texas Tech is a hard place to win, but if McGuire can continue to find success in recruiting the high school ranks of his home state and landing elite players like Hudson and Hammond, the Red Raiders have some staying power in a wide-open Big 12.
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