Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos made it official on Tuesday: he’s declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft. That closes the door on any possibility of him returning to college football, and it marks the end of a winding collegiate journey that spanned three programs and four seasons.
Castellanos had hoped to suit up for the Seminoles one more time, but that path was blocked when the NCAA denied his waiver for an additional year of eligibility. He was in the middle of appealing the decision, but with time running out and roster decisions looming, Florida State head coach Mike Norvell had already indicated earlier this month that the program was preparing for life without him. Now, that’s no longer a contingency plan - it’s the reality.
“Let’s do it 🙏🏽” Castellanos posted to social media, attaching a graphic announcing his draft declaration.
Florida State is expected to explore the transfer portal this winter to address the quarterback position heading into 2026.
As for Castellanos, his college career was anything but conventional. He started at UCF, transferred to Boston College for two seasons, and wrapped things up with a single year in Tallahassee.
Across those four years, he compiled 6,449 passing yards with 48 touchdowns against 28 interceptions, and he added 1,984 rushing yards and 24 scores on the ground. He finishes with a 16-17 record as a starter - including a 5-7 mark at FSU this past season.
Statistically, his lone year with the Seminoles was solid, if not spectacular. He threw for 2,760 yards and 15 touchdowns with nine interceptions, completing 58.3 percent of his passes. On the ground, he contributed 557 rushing yards and led the team with nine rushing touchdowns - a testament to his dual-threat ability and knack for making plays when things broke down.
Castellanos’ game has always been about improvisation and athleticism. He’s not the prototypical pocket passer, but he brings a dynamic element that’s hard to teach - mobility, creativity, and toughness. Those traits helped him carve out a unique college career, and now he’ll try to make his mark at the next level.
The NFL Draft process will offer him a fresh opportunity to showcase his skill set - and while his path hasn’t been linear, it’s one that’s earned him a shot.