Overcoming a grueling ACL recovery, Will Hammond defies expectations to reclaim the starting role, igniting Lubbock’s hopes for a dominant Week 1 and a deep postseason run.
Will Hammond tried to tell us.
But now Texas Tech is officially doing so.
Texas Tech quarterback Hammond got the nod via X on Friday with a morning tweet from the program declaring him "QB1'' for the season.
There has been some reluctance here even though he is doing everything in his power to make sure he is ready for Week 1 as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury.
Having torn his ACL last season, we have heard reports and timelines for when Hammond could return, and given the uncertainty at the quarterback position, the Red Raiders would be sweating Hammond's fitness.
We have heard coach Joey McGuire state that Hammond could return ahead of the loose timeline of a Week 3 return, which got fans excited.
But now ... maybe we can be even a bit more excited.
This follows up on some new information that were already easing a lot of fears in Lubbock, and it came from Hammond himself.
In a sit-down interview with Cory Mose of KVUE News, Hammond made a rather bold statement about potentially returning for Week 1.
"I think at the end of the day, it's all up to the training staff to see how they're viewing me," Hammond said. "But my mentality is always going to be to play in every single game, regardless of the competition.
"My body's prepared for Week 1 at this point, and we haven't even started camp yet. So now it's just honing in on little details and make sure I'm feeling really good going into that game."
That is a big update as Texas Tech's starter, you imagine, barring any setbacks, should be on the field to begin the new college season.
Of course, there will be checkpoints that Hammond has to work through over the coming weeks, but right now, all signs are pointing to Texas Tech's starter being on the field taking the first snaps of the new season on the way to what the program hopes is yet another playoff appearance - and more.
Yes, the training staff will have the final say, and if there is any doubt over Hammond's fitness as the season gets closer, they won't push him. The last thing the team wants is for Hammond to be red-lining and then break down.
This program has already experienced a headache with its Brendan Sorsby misstep, as his gambling issues ended his bid to star in Lubbock at QB this year.
But now?
After months of thinking that the Red Raiders might not have their starter to begin the new year, over the past week, we have gotten a wave of huge updates that now put Hammond on the field in Week 1.
Yes, three keystrokes - "QB1'' - seem to be saying a lot.
