Former Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos has signed with Texas Tech out of the transfer portal, just days after a Kentucky judge granted a temporary injunction in an eligibility lawsuit that included Castellanos and former Missouri basketball standout Mark Mitchell.
Because Castellanos has an injunction, he will not be affected by the new ruling in the Colorado lawsuit that took away eligibility for qualified athletes in the Class of 2022.
More importantly as it relates to his decision to play for Texas Tech, Castellanos would still be eligible even after the Big 12 Conference unanimously adopted a rule barring institutions from fielding professional athletes. The 5-foot-9 Castellanos competed as a wide receiver during the Miami Dolphins’ rookie minicamp in May but because he went undrafted and did not sign a contract with Miami, he will be eligible to play this fall, a league spokesperson told CBS Sports’ Richard Johnson.
The Big 12 made its announcement Wednesday — hours after Castellanos committed to Texas Tech — in the wake of the SEC and Big Ten enacting bans on the glut of pro athletes looking to return to college athletics.
Castellanos completed 58.3% of his passes for 2,760 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions while also rushing for 557 yards and nine touchdowns last season for the Seminoles after transferring from Boston College. He led Florida State’s memorable upset last season over Alabama in Week 1.
Castellanos will likely serve as the backup to starter Will Hammond for the Red Raiders, who are once again the heavy favorites to win the Big 12.
Earlier this month, 16 former college football players were successfully granted a TRO by a Louisiana court, including former LSU edge rusher Jack Pyburn, former James Madison linebacker Trent Hendrick, Ole Miss starters Dae’Quan Wright, Zxavian Harris and Wydett Williams, and SMU running back TJ Harden.
Lane Kiffin and LSU are trying to sign Wright and Harris, but the SEC’s decision this week to bar former players from coming back complicates matters and could lead to another legal war.
