Texas Tech’s quarterback picture took another sharp turn, and Thomas Castellanos is suddenly in the mix.
According to On3’s Pete Nakos, the Red Raiders have become a team to watch in the Castellanos sweepstakes. Castellanos, who most recently played for Florida State, was granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA in Kentucky on Friday, clearing the way for him to play a fifth season of college football.
His path has already been a winding one. Castellanos started at UCF, spent two seasons at Boston College, and then played last season at Florida State.
Texas Tech had believed it had its quarterback situation settled after signing Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby. That changed after reports surfaced that Sorsby bet at least $90,000 on sports bets while he was a college athlete. Sorsby is no longer with the program, and the Red Raiders are now set to open with Will Hammond, unless that changes.
Nakos reported that Texas Tech and Castellanos have been in contact since the eligibility ruling, though the Red Raiders are making sure they do their homework before bringing in the four-year player. Texas Tech, after all, does not need another issue hanging over it.
On the field, Castellanos would give them plenty to think about. He threw for 2,760 yards last season with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and he added 557 rushing yards and nine rushing scores.
Texas Tech already has enough in place to believe another College Football Playoff run is possible, even with Florida State described as a mess. For now, Hammond is listed to start, but that comes with its own concern because he is coming off a torn ACL.
If Castellanos doesn’t land in Lubbock, the move may make even more sense for an ACC school - specifically Duke.
There’s no clear indication the Blue Devils are actively pushing here, but they know Castellanos well. Darien Mensah left Duke at the 11th hour for Miami, leaving Duke scrambling before it turned to San Jose State transfer Walker Eget. Eget could be serviceable this season, but the ACC remains fairly open after Miami, and two teams could still get into the playoff.
That’s why Castellanos would be such a tempting swing for Duke. Manny Diaz is expected to have a strong defense in 2026, but the Blue Devils are still searching for the quarterback who could make that unit matter in the biggest way.
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