University of Memphis Athletics
Tommy West Names Martin Hankins Starting Quarterback
Aug 28, 2006 | Football
Aug. 28, 2006
MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis head football coach Tommy West named junior Martin Hankins the starting quarterback for the Sept. 3 season opener against Ole Miss.
West addressed the media at his weekly press luncheon and quickly answered questions regarding the quarterback competition between Hankins, senior Patrick Byrne and sophomore Will Hudgens.
"We have made a decision at the quarterback position," said West. "I met with Randy (Fichtner) yesterday. We talked about it for a long period of time. We're going to start Martin Hankins at quarterback. He had a really good spring. He wasn't quite as good early in the fall, but then as fall practice went along, I think he solidified himself. Nobody really caught him at the No. 1, although there was tremendous competition; a lot better than I thought it would be."
"We'll play Will Hudgens as our backup quarterback," added West. "I think Will did a really nice job. He probably made as much progress as anybody on our team from the spring until now. He's lost weight, and he's made a big time commitment to be the quarterback. He's thrown the ball much more accurately than he has at any other time since he's been here. Patrick Byrne had a nice camp. He did a good job, but you've got to make a decision. It was really close, but we felt that Will had done the job and he'll be our No. 2 quarterback right now for this game. That will also free Patrick up to work full time on the kicking duties."
Hankins transferred to Memphis last year after two seasons at Southeastern Louisiana University where he was a standout for Coach Hal Mumme. In his two seasons, Hankins threw for 7,777 yards and 65 touchdowns. He was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as he was the 2004 national leader with 4,240 yards passing and 35 touchdowns. A native of Hattiesburg, Miss., Hankins worked out with the Tigers all last season but was not eligible to play because of NCAA transfer rules.
"It's a great feeling," said Hankins in reference to being named the starter. "This is what you work the whole off-season for. I think this is all going to make us better competitors and better players having gone through that heated battle. I think we all did a pretty good job, so it's exciting."
Hudgens and Byrne are both returning to the field after missing a majority of the 2005 season. Byrne broke his leg on the Tigers' third offensive play of the season opener against Ole Miss, and Hudgens broke his leg two games later on the road at Tulsa. Both were held out of contact in the spring but returned for fall camp poised to make a run for the starting job. Byrne is also vying for the kicking job that was vacated by Stephen Gotkowski who was drafted by the New England Patriots.
