LUBBOCK, Tex. — Texas Tech football officially announced Saturday the addition of Florida State University transfer quarterback Thomas Castellanos.
Castellanos, a former fouryear quarterback who exhausted his original eligibility, was granted an additional year following a court order. He will compete for the backup quarterback role behind junior starting quarterback Will Hammond, a Tech Athletics spokesperson confirmed.
In a Saturday, August 29 press release, the program confirmed it had original plans to carry six quarterbacks on its roster since December. The Red aiders previously carried six signalcallers before Brendan Sorsby’s mutual departure from the team in June.
“It has been our intention since this past December to carry six quarterbacks on our roster this season,” stated Joey McGuire, Tech head football coach. “With Tommy (Castellanos), we have an experienced quarterback who we believe can come in and help us win games, if needed. His athleticism is also a great trait and will let us continue to expand our offense.”
As the NCAA passed the five-forfive eligibility model in June, Castellanos went undrafted in April. He later tried out as a wide receiver in rookie minicamps for the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans, but did not sign an NFL contract.
Castellanos only played in an NFL rookie minicamp and never made an NFL roster. That is expected to be within the threshold to allow him to be eligible in the Big 12, which announced later it was banning players who had declared for the NFL draft, signed a pro contract or appeared on a roster.
Before his time at Florida State, Castellanos began his collegiate career at the University of Central Florida in 2022. He then transferred to Boston College for the next two years.
Castellanos threw for 2,760 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025 at FSU. He added 557 yards on the ground with nine rushing touchdowns for the Seminoles. The Ware County High School graduate became Florida State’s career leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
Additionally, Castellanos is one of 10 FBS quarterbacks since the 2022 season to record 6,000 passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards during that timeframe, according to Tech Athletics.
With the aforementioned other stops and the numbers that go alongside them, Castellanos is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the sport this season.
Although the depth chart has not been finalized, it is a near certainty that Castellanos will earn the coveted No. 2 spot right behind Hammond over the other four challengers.
Hammond is still the leading man, but no Texas Tech quarterback has gone a full season as the starter since Patrick Mahomes was suiting up in Lubbock. And that unfortunate fact makes the second spot in Lubbock a potentially pivotal role.
The Red Raiders will open their 2026 season September 5 hosting Abilene Christian University at 6 p.m. inside Galaxy Stadium.
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