The front runners to win the Big 12 football crown this fall could be getting some significant help late at the most important position on the field.
On Friday, veteran journeyman quarterback Tommy Castellanos was granted an injunction by a Kentucky judge that will allow him to enter the transfer portal and play in 2026, and multiple outlets reported that the Texas Tech Red Raiders are expected to land him.
Castellanos is one of a bevy of athletes around the country who graduated from high school in 2022 who has been looking to play an additional collegiate season despite exhausting eligibility as a new “five-in-five” rule for eligibility goes into effect.
Listed at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, Castellanos would be a notable addition for the Red Raiders with just over two weeks now until they open their season on Sept. 5.
A native of Waycross, Georgia, he began his collegiate career at UCF before transferring to Boston College and then again to Florida State. In his career he has thrown for 6,449 yards with 48 touchdowns against 28 interceptions and has rushed for another 1,984 yards with 24 touchdowns.
He would be joining a quarterback group at Texas Tech that has seen significant turmoil since before even last season ended. As it stands now, Will Hammond is expected to be the Red Raiders’ starter when their season opens September 5 against Abilene Christian, but he tore his ACL last October and may not quite be ready to go.
If Hammond isn’t ready, Lloyd Jones III or Kirk Francis would currently be in line to start. Jones played just a bit for Texas Tech last season, while Francis was a backup at Tulsa. In other words, Castellanos has significantly more experience and production than either of them.
The Red Raiders face Oregon State on the road September 12 and then open Big 12 play September 18 at home against a fast-rising Houston team.