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Texas Tech football adds Florida State QB out of transfer portal - Yahoo Sports
Texas Tech football landed a commitment from Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos out of the transfer portal Wednesday, adding a veteran arm behind starter Will Hammond on the 2026 roster. Castellanos secured a fifth year of eligibility through an injunction granted in Kentucky on Friday, a legal route separate from the NCAA stay tied to the Colorado case decided the same day.
Castellanos secured a fifth year of eligibility through an injunction granted in Kentucky on Friday, a legal route separate from the NCAA stay tied to the Colorado case decided the same day. Head coach Joey McGuire had signaled publicly that the Red Raiders were still shopping the portal, and Castellanos is the latest piece added to that puzzle.
The move does not signal a quarterback competition at the top. Castellanos is expected to back up Hammond, not challenge him, while also joining Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis as an experienced voice in the position room. Lloyd Jones II, Stephen Cannon, and Holden Phillips are also currently on the roster, which means Tech will have decisions to make about how many quarterbacks it carries heading into next season.
Depth at the position is not a small thing. Having two transfer portal quarterbacks with Power Four and Group of Five experience sitting behind Hammond gives the room a different feel than a group of younger, unproven options. Castellanos had to win his eligibility in court just to get on the field anywhere next fall.
Common questions
Is Thomas Castellanos going to compete with Will Hammond for the starting QB job at Texas Tech?
- No. Castellanos is expected to back up Hammond, not challenge him for the starting spot. He joins Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis as an experienced presence in the Red Raiders quarterback room heading into the 2026 season.
How did Thomas Castellanos get a fifth year of eligibility to play for Texas Tech?
- Castellanos secured his fifth year of eligibility through a court injunction granted in Kentucky. This was a separate legal route from the NCAA stay connected to the Colorado case, both of which were decided around the same time.
Why did Texas Tech go back to the transfer portal after already having Will Hammond?
- Head coach Joey McGuire had publicly said the Red Raiders were still looking in the portal even with Hammond as the starter. Adding Castellanos and Kirk Francis gives Tech veteran depth and experience behind Hammond at the quarterback position.
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