LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – With the 2026 season opener three weeks away, the Red Raiders took the field at Galaxy Stadium Saturday for a closed-door scrimmage, the first of two. Head football coach Joey McGuire says the first outing was a success- especially in the summer heat.
This year’s team is welcoming back quarterback Will Hammond, who suffered a season-ending injury last year against Oklahoma State. He is readjusting back to his role as the team’s lead signal caller, and with a new receiver corps.
“I thought the more and more Will gets in these (game day) situations, the better. I think he’s doing a good job, he’s staying in there, he’s moving in the pocket,” said McGuire. “And I think we got weapons because when you got two big tight ends and then you have some really athletic receivers and Micah Hudson and Kenny Johnson and Dante Lee that can really go get the football”
One of Hammond’s drives also led to a 64-yeard field goal from returning kicker Stone Harrington.
While the team has been emphasizing red zone efficiency in Saturday’s practice, tight ends Terrance Carter, Jr and Jett Carpenter (transferred from Nevada) both accounted for touchdowns. This is also the first time in a year Quinten Joyner, who was unable to play last year because of a preseason ACL injury, was able to join Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams in the backfield.
“We were in a lot of two-back sets at least once or twice in every series today, and so J’Koby and Cam were out there, or J’Koby and Q were out there together, and we’ve got a lot of stuff that we could do with that,” McGuire said “And a lot of it has to do with, guys we feel really good about J’Koby doing a lot of different things in the slot, and then having Jalen Jones (RB/WR hybrid) makes a big difference, a body more comparable to Jacoby, being able to play that position too.”
Linebacker and Lubbock-native John Curry is expected to have a greater role in Tech’s defense this year. His defensive performance Saturday was one of Coach McGuire’s main takeaways.
“Some guys that really stood out, John Curry had a big interception in our end-of-game two-minute scenario. It was a must. Will (Hammond) had to throw it up because it was 4th down and John did a great job. He was in the middle run through and did a great job of intercepting the ball.”
With last year’s defensive leader Jacob Rodriguez now playing for the Miami Dolphins, Kansas State transfer Austin Romaine has come in to fill his spot as middle linebacker. Coach McGuire says in the last few months, he’s successfully made the transition with teammates Ben Roberts and Curry, both on and off the field.
“I’d never been around a group of guys that were closer than those three, and Austin has come in and fit in great. I know he’s not Jacob, but it’s as far as personality, man, they really have connected,” he said. “Anything I’m sending to Ben, I send to Austin and John, anything I’m sending to any one of them, they’re always in a group. I was really fired up that all three of them got recognized pre-season for the Butkus Award. They play really well off each other and it’s fun also to see Austin Romaine is getting more and more and more and more comfortable in his defense, how fast he’s playing and the impact he’s having defensively.”
The second and final scrimmage is set for next Saturday and will be closed to spectators and media. The Red Raiders’ season opener vs. Abilene Christian is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Galaxy Stadium- formerly known as Jones AT&T Stadium.
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