Texas Tech QB Will Hammond discusses opener and his philosophy on running the ball post-ACL injury - Dallas News

Hammond went down with the injury last season, and the long recovery made Saturday's opener carry extra weight. He finished with one touchdown and one interception, a stat line that won't make anyone forget Patrick Mahomes but got the job done against the Wildcats. His stated goal walking onto the field was simple: put Tech in position to win.

For fans who packed the stands, the game was less about the final score and more about what Hammond looked like in live action again. A 26-of-33 completion rate suggests the arm is sharp. The question of how he handles running the ball post-surgery, something he addressed publicly, will get answered over a longer stretch of games against tougher competition.

Tech handled business in the opener, but the real test of Hammond's recovery comes as the schedule stiffens in Big 12 play.

Nearly a full calendar year of rehab, film rooms, and practice reps passed before Hammond got to feel a real crowd again.