CORVALLIS - Texas Tech’s quarterback plan is still taking shape, and that uncertainty is exactly what makes this week interesting.
Will Hammond handled the opener against Abilene Christian, and he did plenty with it: his first 14 throws all found targets, and he finished 26 of 33 for 298 yards with one touchdown and one interception. But Thomas Castellanos was part of the mix too, and Texas Tech is clearly weighing whether his role should grow when the Red Raiders face Oregon State.
That possibility has only become more realistic as Castellanos gets more time in the offense. He arrived in Lubbock only a week before the season, which has limited how much of the playbook he’s had under his belt. Still, offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich said using him in more than a red zone package is “definitely something we’re looking at,” and coach Joey McGuire said there’s a “good chance” Castellanos sees a larger role this week.
“I do think the more and more he gets comfortable we’ll see him at different times of the game,” McGuire said. “What you want is there’s a confidence whenever he comes in to play and the wheels are not totally turning and he’s trying to process everything as we’re getting out there to snap the football. You see him become more and more comfortable.”
The Beavers spent part of the offseason studying Brendan Sorsby, but their preparation for Texas Tech has centered on Hammond. That could matter less if Castellanos gets more snaps, because he brings a different kind of stress to a defense. Coming off a knee injury, Hammond is much less mobile than Castellanos, who ran for 557 yards and nine touchdowns last season at Florida State.
“He’s extremely athletic,” OSU defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre said. “I could see them utilizing him with zone read schemes, quarterback run schemes, quarterback draw - spread you out in empty and let you run. We’ll prepare for things like that for him.”
MacIntyre also had praise for Hammond, especially the way he can drive the ball and work all areas of the field.
“He is so accurate with his passing arm,” MacIntyre said. “He understands the offense to a ‘T.’ They have the wide splits, so you got to have a powerful arm to get it where they get it and he has that type of arm.”
Texas Tech, after one game, already wants more downfield shots. The Red Raiders were one of the country’s most dangerous passing teams last season, and both Hammond and Castellanos can challenge defenses vertically. McGuire said the offense probably should have been more aggressive in the opener.
“We probably should have pushed the ball - even if we don’t complete them - but push the ball down the field a little bit,” McGuire said.
That’s a dangerous note for Oregon State. The Beavers gave up nine passes of more than 15 yards against Houston, including four that went for 30 or more.
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