Brendan Sorsby won’t be the beginning quarterback for Texas Tech in 2026. The combat over Sorsby’s eligibility ended earlier this summer time, when the quarterback withdrew a pending lawsuit and the NFL determined to not maintain a Supplemental Draft, pointing to his admitted violations of the NCAA’s insurance policies in opposition to playing. For now, which means Sorsby will put together himself for the 2027 NFL Draft.
And the Purple Raiders will transfer to a Plan B at quarterback.
The information comes at a pivotal time for Texas Tech, as the college signed Sorsby to an NIL deal value within the neighborhood of $5 million, one of many largest switch portal offers on document. After profitable the Massive 12 title sport a 12 months in the past and reaching the Faculty Soccer Playoff, the Purple Raiders had eyes on a deeper run within the 12 months forward, with Sorsby on the helm.
So who will that Plan B be?
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has a number of choices.
Tulsa switch Kirk Francis could possibly be thought-about the clubhouse chief on paper. He enrolled at Tulsa as a most well-liked walk-on, and appeared in 18 video games, beginning 12, at Tulsa over the previous three seasons. He threw for six touchdowns throughout the 2023 season, and 9 touchdowns in 2024, and posted a 5-7 document as a starter for the Golden Hurricane.
Over his 18 video games, Francis threw for 3,045 yards and 18 touchdowns, in opposition to 13 interceptions, with a 58.4% completion proportion.
McGuire has two extra choices: Redshirt freshman Lloyd Jones III and Will Hammond, final 12 months’s backup quarterback. Nonetheless, each are coming off important knee accidents. Jones tore his ACL throughout his senior season in highschool, whereas Hammond tore his personal ACL final October.
Talking at Massive 12 Media Days, McGuire addressed the quarterback room at size.
And pointed to Hammond as maybe the clubhouse chief, relying on how his proper knee recovers over the summer time.
“Yeah, actually lucky to have a man like Will Hammond. If Will doesn’t go down in opposition to Oklahoma State, we take a veteran quarterback, however we felt like we had our beginning quarterback. I feel with the amount of cash that’s being positioned in these rosters, we felt like if there was any setback injury-wise, we couldn’t take an opportunity that he’s not going to be prepared,” started McGuire.
“We’ve been lucky, one, that he hasn’t had any setbacks; and, two, if you happen to ask Will Hammond all through this course of, he would inform you he was our beginning quarterback and wasn’t going to again away.
“He’s a singular particular person. I feel the one factor that I might say if you happen to needed to see what Will Hammond was, watch him come off the bench in opposition to Utah. And never the sport that he performed. I’m not speaking in regards to the play, however the way in which the gamers reacted when he got here into that sport, the idea and the love they [have] for him. So we’re lucky to have him.”
Hammond entered the sport in opposition to Utah final September within the third quarter, after beginning quarterback Behren Morton was dominated out with a concussion following successful on the opening drive of the third quarter. Hammond led 4 totally different scoring drives, throwing for a pair of touchdowns, as Texas Tech pulled away for a 34-10 win.
“He’s a dude, man,” McGuire mentioned of Hammond after the win. “For those who stroll on that area and also you’re sporting the Double T, there’s just one option to play. And I believed he did an amazing job. We have been in a position to take some one-on-one pictures and win sufficient to essentially stretch the lead and win the sport.”
Each these touchdowns got here on vertical routes to the left aspect of the sector. The primary got here on a pretend display design with a submit/wheel mixture to the vast aspect of the sector:
And the second, a go route that Hammond put in an ideal spot:
Hammond completed the 12 months having accomplished 63.3% of his passes for seven touchdowns, and three interceptions, earlier than his damage. He could be Texas Tech’s greatest wager.
Returning to the Massive 12 Media Days, McGuire shared his ideas on Francis and Jones, earlier than shifting to Hammond once more.
“Then Kirk Francis and Lloyd Jones have had actually good springs and actually good summers. I be ok with that room. We simply want to remain on monitor,” described McGuire.
However then McGuire returned to Hammond, in response to a query in regards to the younger quarterback.
“Yeah, man, once more, we’re so lucky. That younger man, he’s one of many guys — he’s one of many first two or three folks within the constructing. He’s one of many final ones to go away. Extraordinarily exhausting employee.
“He’s bought nice confidence in himself, and he’s ready, ready himself to be within the place he’s in. He’s bought actually an infectious persona that folks simply gravitate to. I feel that’s why there’s a variety of confidence in Will.
“Then the nice factor is I feel we’ve one of many high working again rooms within the nation, if not the perfect. We have now one of many high tight finish rooms within the nation. I feel we’ve improved our offensive line. We’ve bought a really deep vast receiver room.
“You already know, it’s not all on him. He’s going to have lots of people round him to assist him succeed.”
To that time, there may be expertise across the quarterback place in Lubbock. Working backs Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams are again, after dashing for practically 2,000 mixed yards a season in the past together with 25 touchdowns. Three starters return alongside the offensive line, together with tackles Howard Sampson and Jacob Ponton. Large receiver Coy Eakin is again as effectively, together with tight finish Terrance Carter Jr., and Texas Tech additionally added switch move catchers Kenny Johnson, Donte Lee Jr., and Malcolm Simmons.
However with all the eye paid to Sorsby this low season, that focus will switch to whoever is taking the snaps for Texas Tech.
And for whoever that’s, the expectation stays the identical because it was with Sorsby.
Win the Massive 12, and get into the CFP.
“Win the Massive 12 Convention,” mentioned McGuire when requested in regards to the expectations in Lubbock again in July. “There’s solely been two groups within the historical past of this convention irrespective of who has been within the convention — there’s solely been two groups which have gained back-to-back Massive 12 Championships. That’s OU and Baylor shared, I consider, their convention titles.
“We wish to do one thing that only a few groups have been in a position to do, and that’s to win the Massive 12 Championship once more. You already know, I feel it’s actually essential. I feel it’s actually essential that this convention will get a number of groups within the playoffs.”
Texas Tech might have misplaced Sorsby this summer time.
However they’re prepared for all times with out him.
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