Tommy Castellanos Commits to Texas Tech; Red Raiders Add QB Insurance … and WR Depth?
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LUBBOCK, Texas — Florida State transfer quarterback Tommy Castellanos is committed to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, according to a report from ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Castellanos, who previously played for Boston College and UCF, joins Texas Tech as a likely backup to redshirt sophomore QB Will Hammond, who is gearing up for a return from an ACL injury.
Hammond has been cleared to practice throughout fall camp and has claimed several times that he is aiming at a Week 1 start when Tech hosts Abilene Christian to open the season on Sep. 5.
Castellanos joins a quarterback room that also includes Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis, redshirt freshman Lloyd Jones III, true freshman Stephen Cannon and sophomore Holden Phillips.
With three straight seasons as a starter, the newest Red Raider has the most experience of the bunch.
NEWS: Thomas Castellanos has committed to Texas Tech, he tells ESPN. He's a former quarterback at Florida State, BC and UCF. He has 6,449 career passing yards and 48 passing touchdowns. He's also rushed for 24 touchdowns. pic.twitter.com/T4vVvkuTXY
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 26, 2026
In the midst of the ongoing fallout of the NCAA's new "five-for-five" eligibility guidelines, many athletes seeking a fifth-year that was not an option just months ago are clamoring for a chance to suit up again.
This includes some players that were currently attempting to make it at the professional ranks.
LSU opened the floodgates by signing two former Ole Miss Rebels, who played with new head coach Lane Kiffin, who were currently with NFL squads.
That led to the Big Ten and later the SEC to draft new rules that prohibit any of its member schools from adding athletes with any experience at the professional level to their rosters.
Castellanos received an injunction to play this season, and while he received tryouts with two NFL teams, he did not sign a contract to move on to the next level. That is what deems him eligible to stay in college.
The Big 12 is heavily rumored to follow other conference's new rules after a reported meeting of all 16 of its athletic directors, which saw them agree on similar guidelines.
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Texas Tech's addition to the quarterback room comes after a controversial offseason involving now-ineligible Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby, who will be forced to sit out this season after the NFL declined to hold a supplemental draft.
"We're always – there's never going to be a time that, the way we do things at Texas Tech, that we're not going to try to make our roster better at any point," McGuire said on 105.3 The Fan recently.
Castellanos brings versatility in addition to his experience. This can be beneficial for Hammond, who is also a strong runner but could see fewer rushing opportunities as he comes back from injury.
However, On3's Pete Nakos has cited Castellanos' representation in saying that he is open to the idea of being used as a wide receiver. He underwent receiver drills during his Pro Day earlier in the year.
Last season for the Seminoles, Castellanos threw for 2,760 yards, rushed for 557 more and found the end zone 24 times overall.
He has 6,449 passing yards and 48 passing touchdowns to go with 1,984 yards and 24 touchdowns rushing.
READ MORE:Joey McGuire Says It's Unfair Brendan Sorsby Won't Play for Texas Tech
Castellanos swooping into a situation that already spotlights Hammond could create an interesting locker room dynamic, but McGuire's frequent endorsements of Hammond paint the picture that he is the starting quarterback.
"You're talking about a fan-favorite and a locker room favorite. Our guys absolutely love him. He's a guy's guy; he's a football guy," McGuire said. "Having Will Hammond, there's a belief because [his teammates] knew he was going to be the starter if he didn't get hurt.
"So, really important to have him. He's in a great spot. He's fully released; he's ready to go Week 1. He's had a really good camp. … We're excited about Will Hammond."
And now, the Red Raiders potentially have two quarterbacks to get excited about playing this season.
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