LUBBOCK, Texas — Will Hammond said his surgically repaired right knee felt great in his first start since tearing an ACL last October, and that he came out of Texas Tech’s 33-10 win over Abilene Christian able to run.
Hammond’s last start before Saturday came Oct. 25, 2025, against Oklahoma State, the game he left with the injury. He finished 26-of-33 for a career-high 298 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and he scrambled on the play that produced the interception.
Hammond said he will keep wearing a brace on the knee because it gives him a measure of safety on hits, even though he does not feel he needs it.
“The knee felt great, which was awesome,” Hammond said. “Those few reps where I was able to run around, I felt great. So, grateful for all the trainers getting me back and excited to be out there able to run around.”
Will Hammond Plans To Keep Wearing the Brace
Ten months separated the injury from Saturday’s kickoff. Texas Tech named Hammond its starter over the summer, and Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said through camp that he expected Hammond to be available for the opener.
“The knee brace is great. I actually feel just better, more safe with it,” Hammond explained. “I don’t feel like I necessarily need it, but I feel a measure of safety with it just on any hit. So I’ll continue to wear it.”
Hammond’s interception came on his 15th attempt of the night after he had completed his first 14. He said the scramble was his first rep out of the pocket in the game and that he should have taken five yards and gone out of bounds.
“I think I’d prefer not to run at times. That keeps me healthy,” Hammond said. “But I’m going to tuck my head when I need to, and I’m going to slide when I need to. And I’m going to, especially in the red zone, if yards are there to scramble and even get in the end zone myself, I’m going to do that. So I’m not going to shy away from it. But just glad to be healthy at this point.”
Joey McGuire On Will Hammond’s First Start Since October
Texas Tech did not allow a sack. McGuire said the offensive line played well in the passing game and that Hammond worked to second and third reads on several snaps.
“I told him before the game, I said, first, be Will Hammond and take a deep breath, because you’ve got to imagine how geeked up that kid was to play tonight,” McGuire said. “To be the starting quarterback for Texas Tech and to go through everything he’s gone through in his rehab and everything. He was really geeked up. I thought he did a really good job controlling his emotions.”
Saturday was the fourth start of Hammond’s career. He was 9-for-9 for 85 yards in the first quarter and threw a 64-yard touchdown to Malcolm Simmons with 2:45 left in the game.
Texas Tech plays at Oregon State on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT on CBS.
