Castellanos enters transfer portal as Texas Tech seeks quarterback depth
A legal injunction has secured a fifth year of eligibility for the former Florida State starter, positioning him as a likely option for the Red Raiders.
Former Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos has entered the NCAA transfer portal, according to sources cited by CBS Sports. The move follows a legal development on Friday when a Kentucky judge granted a temporary injunction in an eligibility lawsuit. This ruling protects Castellanos from a separate decision in a Colorado lawsuit that stripped eligibility from other qualified athletes in the 2022 recruiting class.
Castellanos, a three-star recruit from Georgia, has navigated a complex collegiate career. He initially signed with UCF in 2022 before transferring to Boston College, where he started for two seasons. He joined Florida State as a senior in 2025, completing 58.3 per cent of his passes for 2,760 yards and 15 touchdowns. His dual-threat capabilities were further highlighted by 557 rushing yards and nine touchdowns during that tenure.
Texas Tech has emerged as the most likely destination for Castellanos, driven by the need for depth at quarterback in Lubbock. The Red Raiders had previously secured Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby, but Sorsby will no longer play for the team this fall due to fallout from a gambling scandal. This departure has left the position vulnerable, with Will Hammond currently starting while recovering from a torn ACL suffered last October.
The current backup, sophomore Lloyd Jones III, has attempted only five passes at the college level, creating a significant gap in experience. Castellanos would provide immediate insurance at the most critical position on the field. Despite missing spring practice and most of fall camp, the former Seminoles starter has reportedly generated significant interest from at least one Power Four team.
The addition of Castellanos is viewed as a strategic move to protect Texas Tech’s broader ambitions. The Red Raiders have assembled a transfer class that ranked No. 6 nationally according to 247Sports, positioning the team as a potential College Football Playoff contender. Securing a reliable quarterback option ensures that these title hopes are not derailed should Hammond’s recovery from his knee injury prove problematic.
