Quarterback to Back: Zane Flores Available, Will Hammond to Start for OSU-Texas Tech

The Big 12’s availability report was released on Wednesday, and it created even more questions for this weekend’s quarterback matchup.

Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton is listed as Questionable after missing the Red Raiders’ last game with a leg injury. According a report, Will Hammond will make his second-straight start though Morton will be available.

But the wrinkle, which could go at least a little ways in evening the score for the Cowboys, is that Zane Flores was not included on the report, meaning he would be available for the first time in three weeks.

Flores became OSU’s starter after Hauss Hejny broke his foot in the first quarter of the season. Flores has not quite set secondaries on fire, but he is an actual rostered quarterback. Let’s repeat that information. Oklahoma State has not started a “quarterback” since Oct. 3.

Ahead of this announcement, interim head coach Doug Meacham alluded to a potential “two-quarterback platoon,” meaning we could expect both Flores and Sam Jackson V, who has been the starter the last two weeks.

So it looks like it will be backups on both sides. Before we get into the who’s and what’s, let’s look their numbers. I included both Flores’ and Jacksons’ stats.

We know that Flores and Jackson haven’t combined for a great showing at QB, but let’s see what the Tech’s freshman has done.

Hammond actually got his first start in the Red Raiders’ AutoZone Liberty Bowl loss to Arkansas last year. He went 20-for-34 for 280 yards and a score with three INTs. In his lone start this season, he flipped that, going 2-for-1 in the air and rushing for another score. He can do that.

Last Saturday, when handed the reins due to Morton’s injury, he was effective, even if the Red Raiders’ win streak came to an end. Tech’s offense sputtered for the first three quarters, but Hammond hit another level in the fourth and almost pulled out the win.

Hammond led Tech on back-to-back touchdown drives late in the fourth to take a 22-19 lead with two minutes to go. He completed eight consecutive passes during that stretch and rushed for the final score and the two-point conversion.

Arizona State scored again late, and Hammond and the Tech offense ran out of clock at the edge of the red zone. A last-second shot to the endzone was broken up.

Despite limited touches, Hammond is second on his team with five rushing TDs and third on rushing yards. He’s averaging over seven yards per attempt and that’s on 39 tries. He had 47 yards and that late score against ASU, so expect more of that on Saturday.

Although the Cowboys’ QB room has been depleted this year, the Red Raiders have an embarrassment of riches, at least in comparison.

Hammond is an effective passer and dangerous when he decides to take off and run, and he’ll be making his first start at Jones AT&T Stadium in a crucial bounce-back opportunity for his Raiders and their Big 12 title hopes.