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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.
DESTINY AWAITS: FBCA’s Warren becoming hot commodity
In the few short months that have followed their recent TAPPS State Championship victory, athletes from Fort Bend Christian Academy have been racking up offers to continue their playing careers at the collegiate level.
Junior offensive lineman Bennett Warren has piqued the interest of dozens of top-tier universities.
With offers from several of college football’s biggest names, including Texas A&M, Kansas, and Oklahoma, it’s clear that the tremendous potential of the young offensive lineman is being recognized.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“It’s a really amazing experience to see people around the nation respect the work that you put in,” said Warren. “It means a lot to hear that somebody likes what they see in my game film, and see how I’ve improved over the years.”
Considering Warren has the luxury of choosing which prominent school he’d like to attend, it would appear that the world is his oyster. However, the opportunity wasn’t just handed to him. It was earned.
“I can’t take all the credit,” Warren said. “I feel that as a team and a family, we’ve all come really far and we began to realize that it’s not about playing for the scouts or the views. It’s about playing as a family to reach a goal we collectively hope to achieve. There’s no sense of jealousy or hatred within us.”
Thus far, FBCA has proven to be incredibly beneficial for Warren and his teammates. Of course, winning a State Title will garner the attention of college scouts seeking potential recruits, but the three years played at FBCA means so much more to No. 76 .
The 2022-23 TAPPS 5A-D2 State Champions, Fort Bend Christian Academy FootballJustin Hartojo (VYPE)
“I feel that playing at FBCA has helped me grow as a person in general,” said Warren. “Initially, I thought our team may be small in comparison to some 6A schools. But, the love is real and there are no gaps in how we treat each other. Me and my friends, Max Granville, Ivan Jimmy-Ducksworth and Cobey Sellers, have all been set on the same goal and have always been there for each other.”
Furthermore, his teammates aren’t the only ones who have made an impact on his life.
“I feel that my biggest inspiration would be our coach,” Warren said. “Coach [Jordan] Black leads us as men, and teaches us things to help us grow in life.”
Warren will have one more year to play for the Eagles before he advances to the collegiate level. With the momentum generated from their Championship season, who’s to say FBCA won’t repeat next fall?
“Winning a State Title was an incredibly unreal experience,” said Warren. “I’m happy we got it done, but we’re hoping to run it back once more.”