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Inside the Helmet: Hutto's Hammond talks Elite 11, Texas Tech
A dream came true for one of Austin’s top quarterbacks in Hutto’s Will Hammond.
The senior-to-be was earned a prestigious Elite 11 Camp and participated with some of the nation’s top preps a few weeks back.
“It was special,” he said. “To compete with the top guys in the country and get coached by the best in the globe was a tremendous experience. What I really took away was the intellectual part of the game. Sure, I picked up some footwork and eye recognition tips, but it was really the mental toughness and leadership lessons that I really got the most out of.”
The Texas Tech-commit will have more tools in the belt as he enters his senior year from the experience in California. The three-year starter threw for over 2,700 yards and 30 TDs and rushed for over 700 yards as a junior but wants more.
“I'm really excited about my senior year,” he said. “We have underperformed the past two years and we have something to prove. Our summer workouts are going to get us prepared for a long season. We just need to do a better job at finishing games. Staying healthy will also be key. I have high expectations for us this year and I feel as ready as I ever have.”
Then it’s off to Texas Tech, where he is trying to recruit some additional offensive pieces to the puzzle for coach Joey McGuire.
“I’m really trying to keep tabs on the potential recruits and commits and get everyone excited about being a Red Raider,” he said. “I’m just out there building relationships because we are going to be teammates the next four years.”
Well, he's off to a good start.
Conner Weigman (right) at Elite 11
Bridgeland's Weigman named to prestigious Elite 11
July 14, 2021—Bridgeland High School senior Conner Weigman was named to the 2021 Elite 11, a prestigious honor in which the premier competition brings together the nation's top high school quarterbacks to compete, challenge themselves and improve their skillset.
Weigman earned his invitation to the finals competition after excelling during his junior season with the Bridgeland football team and at the Elite 11 Houston Regional in March. He led the Bears to a 12-1 record and District 16-6A championship in 2020, throwing for 3,803 yards and 42 touchdowns and adding 665 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
Regional competitions include position instruction and testing. Paired with the regionals this year were Elite 11 Academy competitions, one-day events open to rising sophomore, freshmen and eighth grade quarterbacks. Cypress Creek High School sophomore Brad Jackson won the Golden Gun Accuracy Challenge among academy participants.
Weigman finishing second in athletic testing at the Houston Regional, solidifying his invite to the Elite 11 Finals.
Twenty talented quarterbacks across 11 different states (four from Texas) made the finals roster. The Elite 11 Finals were held June 30-July 3 in Los Angeles, and included advanced, one-on-one quarterback instruction, leadership training and high-level skills competitions. Camp counselors are current premier college football quarterbacks, while Elite 11 alumni include 24 National Football League starting quarterbacks during the 2020 season.
Weigman won the Rail Shot Challenge on the first night, finished second in the Mega-Target Accuracy Challenge and placed fourth at the Pro Day Workout. The final 11 were named on July 3 and determined by Elite 11 staff based on junior season film and performance (50 percent), and event evaluation and traits (50 percent).
Weigman is just the sixth Houston-area quarterback to be named to the final Elite 11 in the competition's 23-year history. He is also the first Elite 11 member in CFISD history.
(PRESS RELEASE FROM CY-FAIR ISD COMMUNICATIONS)