Another Quarterback Twist For Texas Tech Before The Season Starts

Wow. Just when things had finally died down at Galaxy Stadium, Texas Tech is back in the national college football conversation.

This time, the Red Raiders are being mentioned as the likely landing spot for former Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos, who was granted a fifth year of eligibility through a court injunction and entered the transfer portal.

So let’s drop back five and look at how we got here.

Texas Tech’s Quarterback Room Gets Interesting Again

Texas Tech spent part of the offseason branded as a college football villain over the very temporary addition of quarterback Brendan Sorsby. Sorsby’s gambling-related eligibility battle became a national story, and the backlash got so intense that Georgia and Nebraska moved to stop scheduling Texas Tech, while other schools openly discussed similar action.

Eventually, Sorsby and Texas Tech parted ways. He attempted to enter the NFL supplemental draft, but the NFL ultimately decided not to hold one in 2026. Either way, the whole mess was suddenly no longer Texas Tech’s problem.

That brought the conversation back to Will Hammond, who is returning from a repaired ACL. Hammond has been medically cleared and is expected to be the starter when the Red Raiders open the season September 5 against Abilene Christian in Lubbock.

Getty Images

Now comes Castellanos.

According to reports citing The Athletic, Texas Tech is expected to be a landing spot for Castellanos, with the veteran quarterback likely beginning as Hammond’s backup.

And this is not some random guy looking for a roster spot. Castellanos helped Florida State shock No. 8 Alabama 31-17 last season, rushing for 78 yards and a touchdown while throwing for 152 yards in the upset. He has also played at Boston College and UCF and brings a ton of college experience with him.

I love the idea of Texas Tech building depth everywhere, especially at quarterback. Hammond is coming off a serious knee injury, and having an experienced insurance policy makes complete sense.

Read More: Jason Corley Spotted Leaving Fireball Whiskey In A Lubbock Planter l

Still, the season opener is right around the corner, and it has to be at least a little unnerving to suddenly have someone like Castellanos walking into the quarterback room.

Hopefully everybody knows their role, stays focused and keeps their eyes on the opponents instead of another last-minute distraction.

After the summer Texas Tech football has already had, a little boring would be just fine.