When it comes to Brendan Sorsby being granted an injunction to play for the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2026 season, everyone is thinking about the quarterback himself, TTU megabooster Cody Campbell, the various ADs who are threatening not to play Texas Tech, Texas AG Ken Paxton, Judge Ken Curry, and every other figurehead who won't be on the field this fall. No one is thinking about Sorsby's teammates and what this means for their careers.
Think about the Red Raiders receivers who now won't have an injured Will Hammond carrying the load under center. Hammond is coming off an ACL tear and may not have been guaranteed to even play in Week 1. There may need to be a contingency plan regardless, since Sorsby is suspended in Week 1 and Week 2. At least he's playing at some point, though. While Sorsby might've been an overpay in the portal, oil-rich Texas Tech paid for and received an upgrade at the most important position on the field. Now, the receivers in Lubbock are about to benefit big time. Sorsby put up 426 passing yards at Jones AT&T Stadium last September in a 44-41 loss for the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Assuming Sorsby is able to play, which is still up in the air, with the Big 12 potentially concocting a plan to keep him away, and TTU prepared to countersue if that happens, a former Auburn Tigers receiver is set to benefit.
Malcolm Simmons will be better off with Brendan Sorsby playing
Perhaps the biggest pleasant surprise of the "Freeze Four," former Benjamin Russell High School star Malcolm Simmons, will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Sorsby's likely return. While most have eyes on Coy Eakin or Micah Hudson to be the team's biggest receiving threat, Simmons is someone to watch in the slot.
Simmons' speed has Red Raiders track coach Wes Kittley wanting the Alexander City product running track in the winter, but it'll be play-caller Mack Leftwich and WR coach Justin Johnson that could benefit the most from that speed.
Sorsby is elite at slant and glance routes, giving Simmons plenty of potential chances to catch the ball in the flat and win foot races down the sideline. Few are better in the Big 12 at the quick, underneath, and intermediate passing game than Sorsby. After succeeding with Payton Thorne and Jackson Arnold, to a degree, Simmons should play his best ball with Sorsby.
Simmons' role with Texas Tech should be more similar to his role on the 2024 Tigers than his role in 2025 at Auburn. Last year, Simmons was more of an explosive big-play receiver downfield. In 2024, he was a checkdown/YAC specialist.
In whichever way Simmons is used, his future is in better hands with Sorsby than with anyone else. We'll see if the NCAA or the Big 12 do anything to keep Sorsby out of the sport after being found to have gambled on his own games on the Bearcats and Indiana Hoosiers.
If the runway is cleared for Sorsby, Simmons is a clear Big 12 breakout candidate in West Texas.
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