Position Previews: Quarterbacks

It’s time we start breaking down each position as the season will be here in about 2 months. I don’t have any inside information, so these are mainly guesses on my part and if you take anything away from this, it’s the opportunity for a discussion.

Possible Starters:

Possible Starter for Two Games:

Kirk Francis (6-2, 200) Jr-Tr

I wasn’t sure how to divvy this up. It now seems unlikely that Francis is the starter for the first couple of games and given that they are against ACU and Oregon State, these should be games that Texas Tech wins with Francis or Hammond. If he here to play, he would just need to be okay. Francis didn’t have great stats at Tulsa, and I know some of you are doubters, but Mack Leftwich can elevate a quarterback. He took Lindsey Scott, Jr. (now a coach for Texas Tech) and improved his game significantly in his career, from about 60% completion rate and 16 touchdowns, 11 picks with a rating of about 140 before Leftwich, to 70% completion rate, 60 touchdowns, 8 picks, and a 197 rating. As an aside, this also applies to Hammond and improving his game as well. Last year Francis completed about 60% of his passes, 3 touchdowns to 4 picks and a rating of 109. Not really a runner either, so that wasn’t part of his game. Leftwich is going to have to work some magic for sure if it is Francis.

Possible Starter for the Remainder of the Year:

Will Hammond (6-2, 210) So-1L

QB1 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oBIBmykCtT

— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) July 24, 2026

It could happen sooner and based on this post, I guess he’ll suit up the first game of the year? Hammond was actually a bit rough last year, completed 63% of his passes, 7 touchdowns to 3 picks and a rating of 131 last year. Mitch Griffis was better in a reserve role and I think it’s because he saw so much prior to his arrival. There needs improvement for Hammond down the field, just 6.2 yards per attempt last year, compared with Behren Morton who was at 8.4 and Griffis who was at 9.9. I’ve said it before, but there is no amount of rehab that Hammond can do with a torn ligament that will expedite the healing and time needed to repair a ligament. Muscles surrounding the ligament can be strengthened, but the ligament needs that time to heal and the way it has been explained to me is that more time is better for ligament healing. I’m not a doctor and I don’t play one on TV. I feel like the staff has always been pretty good about not playing guys that are in danger of being injured so if Hammond is good to go then the staff has cleared him. I hope that Hammond is healthy and healing and ready.

Likely Back-Ups:

Lloyd Jones III (6-4, 215) Fr-RS
Holden Phillips (6-1, 205) Fr-RS
Stephen Cannon (6-2, 205) Fr-HS

I know what someone is going to say. That Jones should maybe start ahead of Francis. And I’m here to tell you that he was spectacular in mop-up time last year. He completed 4 of 5 and had 2 touchdowns. I personally don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t be considered as an option because he is healthy and he has a great pedigree, he just doesn’t have much experience. Phillips and Cannon are obviously emergency options. I don’t have a ton of things to say about them other than get in those reps whenever you can.