QB Castellanos commits to Texas Tech for 5th year

Former Florida State, Boston College and UCF quarterback Tommy Castellanos has committed to Texas Tech, he told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Wednesday. Castellanos is a 32-game starter who has thrown for 6,449 yards and 48 touchdowns over his four-year college career. He has also rushed for 24 touchdowns. He was granted a temporary restraining order by a Kentucky judge on Friday that is set to allow him to play a fifth college season. The Red Raiders lost starting quarterback Brendan Sorsby this summer and could be in the market for another veteran passer to back up starter Will Hammond, who's coming back from a torn ACL suffered last October. Hammond is expected to be ready to start Texas Tech's season opener against Abilene Christian on Sept. 5 after recovering from his knee injury. The Red Raiders have an experienced backup in Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis behind him but were unable to add any additional transfers this summer following Sorsby's departure. The 5-foot-9, 198-pound passer went undrafted in April and had a rookie minicamp tryout with the Miami Dolphins as a wide receiver in May. Castellanos only played in an NFL rookie minicamp, which is expected to be within the threshold to allow him to be eligible in the Big 12. Castellanos had previously sought an NCAA waiver to be granted a fifth year of eligibility, citing his 2022 season at UCF in which he played in five games, with one coming in a conference title game before the NCAA changed its four-game redshirt rules. Castellanos, 22, dropped his appeal in December to enter the draft.