Thomas Castellanos commits to Texas Tech after fifth-year ruling

Texas Tech has secured quarterback Thomas Castellanos, after the former Florida State starter received a temporary fifth-year eligibility ruling, CBS Sports reported via sources.

The commitment places Castellanos in the Red Raiders’ quarterback picture following the departure of Brendan Sorsby, who left amid an extensive gambling investigation.

Castellanos’ transfer arrives as Texas Tech opens its season Sept. 5 at home against Abilene Christian, with Will Hammond projected to start at quarterback after winning the job in fall camp.

Last week, a Kentucky judge granted Castellanos a temporary restraining order that allowed him to play a fifth year, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz as cited in the report.

Castellanos declared for the NFL draft after the 2025 season, but went undrafted and later accepted minicamp invitations from the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins to try out as a wide receiver, sources told CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

Castellanos started 12 games for the Seminoles in 2025, posting 3,317 total yards with 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions, TruMedia data cited by the report showed.

Among 133 qualifying college football quarterbacks that season, he ranked 14th in EPA/dropback, according to TruMedia.

As he looks ahead to the 2026-27 campaign, his career numbers include 8,433 total yards and 72 touchdowns while compiling a 16-16 record as a college starter, the report said.

Castellanos previously spent time at UCF in 2022 and Boston College before transferring to Florida State in 2024, sources stated.

During his 2025 Florida State season, he completed 58.3% of pass attempts for 2,760 passing yards and added 557 rushing yards, while throwing 15 passing touchdowns and nine interceptions, the report said.

He also led the ACC in passing yards per attempt with 8.9, according to the same report.

With Sorsby out, Texas Tech was expected to start Hammond, who is coming off a torn ACL suffered in October 2025, and he threw seven touchdowns with three interceptions in eight games last season, the reports said.