More Micah? Texas Tech WR Hudson Not a Concern, Says Joey McGuire

LUBBOCK -- Will Hammond and Micah Hudson come from the same recruiting class for Texas Tech, but the former is starting to find his footing earlier than the latter in their first season as regular starters in 2026.

Hudson, the former 5-star wide receiver, has had a topsy-turvy college career, but he's returned to Lubbock and earned a starting spot with the Red Raiders, who sit No. 11 in the AP poll and are 5-0 going into the bye week.

READ MORE: Texas Tech Gets Timetable for Dickey, Castellanos

Hudson's numbers, however, still haven't been of the breakout sort, which has grown fans' frustration amid a string of slow starts for the offense as a whole.

When it comes to Hudson's role, head coach Joey McGuire emphasizes efficiency over volume.

"As a receiver, sometimes the ball through the reads - it doesn't find you," McGuire said.

Hudson has seven receptions for 78 yards through four games this season. With one more catch, he'll match his season total from each of the last two years.

McGuire made sure to mention how Hudson has been reliable when the ball is headed his way, with just one drop on all of his targets.

"He's in a good space," the coach said. "As far as receiver wise, I feel good about what he's doing, and then he's doing a great job as far as everything else we're asking him to do."

McGuire said this week that Texas Tech is in the midst of a "self-scout" during the off week, which gives the team an opportunity to highlight the things they've done well and pinpoint areas needing improvement.

The plays where Hammond is most comfortable - the "day-1" installs - have been notable talking points. Those opportunities have been few and far between in the first and second quarters this season.

As far as Hammond is concerned, his stats convey a mixed back of successes this season. He leads the nation in average yards per touchdown pass - suggesting effectiveness when Tech dials up deep passes - but has only five such throws, which ranks near the bottom of the Big 12.

Hammond's five interceptions this season are tied for the most in the conference, and his 220 passing yards per game are right around the conference average.

READ MORE: 'Let's Go Get It!' Joey McGuire Aims for Texas Tech Record After Milestone

"Whenever he finds the open receiver as his first read, he's really highly effective," McGuire said. "On his first read and getting the ball out fast, he's really highly effective. But we're a full-field-read team. Some of it has been coming off the first read too soon and going to No. 2 [when] that first read is going to come open, or is open."

The Red Raiders' next game is in Lubbock against Arizona State. With eyes keying in on Hudson's separation and Hammond's selectivity, McGuire is preparing for a lot of man coverage from the Sun Devils.

"We're going to see it again," McGuire said. "If it's any indication what they did to us last year against Arizona State, we're going to get a lot of man, quarter looks that turn into man [coverage], and so you've got to win your one-on-ones. If you're the first read, you better win your one-on-one. If not, we're coming off of it."

In terms of that outside noise clouding both Hudson's production and the Red Raiders' efficiency as a whole, McGuire's remarks also explain how Tech has been able to turn into a dominant second-half team through focus and resiliency.

"External pressure is the things you gotta let go. It's already a pressure situation what you're doing by nature," McGuire said. "You gotta remember it's a game. ... That [focus on pressure] doesn't help you in anyway. ... All you can control is coming out to practice and trying to get better every single week."