Texas Tech’s 2026 season begins on September 5th, but the Red Raiders may still add talent to their roster.
New quarterback for the Red Raiders to start the season?
Former Boston College and Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos was granted an injunction for his fifth year of eligibility today, and it seems like he may be headed to Lubbock for that final year of college football.
According to The Athletic, Castellanos is expected to land at Texas Tech as a backup quarterback. He will likely start the season as the QB backup to Will Hammond, who is returning as the starter after a season-ending ACL injury.
We all know how chaotic the quarterback room has been this offseason for Texas Tech, and just as things seem to settle down, something else disrupts the situation. There’s probably not a more accurate depiction of the chaos that is college football than this situation right here in Lubbock.
What Does This Mean For Will Hammond?
Following the Brendan Sorsby debacle, the Red Raiders seemed to be finally headed in the right direction to start the season. I wouldn’t say the Sorsby situation did anything positive for Hammond’s confidence, and this certainly doesn’t seem to be a vote of confidence for him either.
Although it may not necessarily help Hammond’s confidence level, it does make cautionary sense. If Castellanos is truly being brought in to be the backup, Texas Tech may have one of the better relievers in the country. Hammond not being able to stay healthy for a full season may also be a reason why the Red Raider’s coaching staff may want to bring in Castellanos.
With Hammond coming off of a serious injury, it makes sense to have a capable backup quarterback behind him in case his knee continues to linger on, or he suffers another setback during the season.
In his career, Castellanos has accounted for 6,449 passing yards, 48 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 yards on the ground (1,984). His best season statistically came last year at Florida State, where he threw for 2,760 yards and 15 touchdowns with a 58.3% completion rate.
His dual-threat ability could also serve purpose, for the Red Raiders, as they could certainly find ways to mix him into the offense. He, along with the Texas Tech running backs, can break the season rushing yard records for the Red Raiders this season.
More than anything, Tech fans should feel good about this move. Castellanos will provide another weapon with his legs, and could give Texas Tech a solid backup option if something were to happen to Hammond.
While nothing has been confirmed by the university or the athletic program themselves, the Red Raiders seem to be the favorite to land the fifth-year quarterback. The college football season is right around the corner, but the offseason chaos never seems to end.
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