08/26/26 06:20:00
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08/26 18:19 CDT QB Tommy Castellanos commits to No. 12 Texas Tech with
court-granted 5th season of eligibility
QB Tommy Castellanos commits to No. 12 Texas Tech with court-granted 5th season
of eligibility
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) --- Well-traveled quarterback Tommy Castellanos plans to
play this season for No. 12 Texas Tech, the Big 12 favorite that is set for
returner Will Hammond to be its starter after transfer Brendan Sorsby was
declared ineligible this summer because of gambling.
Castellanos told ESPN on Wednesday he had committed to the Red Raiders. On the
quarterback's verified X account, in which the bio included the phrase
professional athlete, there was a photo posted later in the day with him in a
Texas Tech uniform.
The decision came after Castellanos last Friday was among 10 athletes granted a
temporary restraining order by a Kentucky judge to get a fifth season of
college football. The NCAA announced a rule change in June allowing players who
began college in 2023 or later to have five years to play five years of sports
in college.
Castellanos, a freshman at UCF in 2022, went undrafted by the NFL four months
ago before a tryout as a receiver with the Miami Dolphins during their rookie
minicamp.
He had declared for the NFL draft last December after dropping his appeal for
another year of college eligibility. The NCAA had denied his waiver request to
play another season at Florida State
Castellanos transferred to Florida State following two seasons at Boston
College. His fifth game at UCF as a freshman was the American Athletic
Conference championship game after the starter got hurt.
In 38 college games, Castellanos has completed 477 of 816 passes (58.5%) for
6,449 yards with 48 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. He was 180-of-309 (58.3%)
for 2,760 yards, 15 TDs and nine interceptions last year in his 12 games for
the Seminoles.
Hammond played in eight games for Big 12 champion Texas Tech behind graduated
Behren Morton last season before an ACL injury on Oct. 25. After no setbacks in
his recovery, Hammond has been part of fall camp. The Red Raiders open the
season at home Sept. 5 against FCS team Abilene Christian.
Sorsby transferred to Tech in January after two seasons at Cincinnati, and was
expected to start instead before an NCAA gambling investigation and
since-dropped lawsuit over his eligibility.
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