Will Hammond rises to the occasion vs Utah
When the Texas Tech Red Raiders needed someone to step up in Salt Lake City, freshman quarterback Will Hammond answered the call. Filling in for starter Behren Morton, Hammond showcased poise beyond his years, leading the Red Raiders with confidence and composure. Guiding the offense efficiently, he kept drives alive, avoided costly mistakes and helped seal a convincing 34-10 win over Utah. It was a performance that marked his first real statement moment in scarlet and black.
After the game, Hammond credited Morton for instilling belief in him when opportunities like this come around.
“I trust you, He trusts me, we watch film together and he’s my guy. He trusts me and that gives me all the confidence in the world.”
“That guy (Behren Morton) has been ballin here for like 4 or 5 years now so when he has that trust in you and your coaches have that trust in you, I mean that just gives you the confidence in the world to just do your thing.”
Why trust is so important for the Red Raiders
For Hammond, Saturday’s win was about more than just execution — it was about trust. The freshman quarterback pointed to the team’s unity and attention to detail as the difference in closing out the victory.
“I think just trusting each other. We all had a make-it-happen mentality. Coach (Joey) McGuire emphasizes, especially on the road, the importance of tight huddles. In that fourth quarter, we had tight huddles and we were communicating.”
How Hammond prepares for these big moments
Hammond’s confidence doesn’t come by accident- it’s something he works on daily. The freshman credited both his mental preparation and the team’s sharp week of practice as keys to his composure against Utah.
“I trust my mentality, and I meditate and I believe that helps me stay confident and focused. I also trust the reps in practice, because practicing well leads to playing well in games. We had a really great week of practice, and I think that made a difference.”
What to look forward to for the Red Raiders
Even after a statement win on the road, Hammond’s focus quickly turned to what’s next. The young gunslinger emphasized the team’s drive to improve in all phases and its larger goal of proving itself among the nation’s best.
“It starts back again tomorrow, watching the film. There are things we need to clean up on offense, defense, and special teams. We just have to keep stacking, keep putting chips on the table, and challenging ourselves to get better and better because the games are only going to get harder as we go on.”
“We want to be the best team in the country, and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to prepare every day.”
