Tommy Castellanos: NFL, NIL, Stats, Ethnicity, NIL Deal and Texas Tech

Tommy Castellanos has taken an unusual route through college football. After playing at UCF, Boston College and Florida State, the quarterback entered the 2025 NFL Draft, went undrafted and later participated in the Miami Dolphins’ rookie minicamp. He has now returned to college football after receiving another season of eligibility and joined the Texas Tech Red Raiders in 2026.

The move has put Tommy Castellanos, NFL, NIL, stats and Texas Tech among the topics attracting attention around the experienced quarterback. Here is what is currently known about his career, background and NIL situation.

Who Is Tommy Castellanos?

Tommy Castellanos is the nickname of Thomas Castellanos IV, a quarterback from Waycross, Georgia. Texas Tech lists him at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds and identifies him as a fifth-year player. He wears No. 4 for the Red Raiders.

Castellanos was born on August 26, 2003, and attended Ware County High School in Waycross. He was a multi-sport athlete and played football, basketball, soccer and track and field.

At Ware County, Castellanos developed into a productive dual-threat quarterback. According to Texas Tech, he finished his high school career with 7,710 passing yards and 3,681 rushing yards. He eventually committed to UCF.

His college career has since taken him through four programs: UCF, Boston College, Florida State and now Texas Tech.

Tommy Castellanos and the NFL

Tommy Castellanos did enter the NFL pathway after the 2025 college season.

He declared for the NFL Draft but was not selected. After the draft, Castellanos participated in the Miami Dolphins’ rookie minicamp as a receiver. Importantly, he was there on a tryout basis and was never on an NFL roster.

That distinction became important when he later returned to college football.

Castellanos had initially believed his college eligibility had ended. However, a Kentucky judge granted a temporary restraining order in August 2026 that gave him and other athletes from the 2022 high-school class an opportunity to play another college season.

He subsequently committed to Texas Tech.

The situation also came during a period when the Power Four conferences were changing their rules regarding players who had entered the professional ranks. Because Castellanos had not actually been on an NFL roster, his situation differed from that of a player who had officially played in the NFL.

Tommy Castellanos at Texas Tech

Texas Tech officially added Castellanos to its roster on August 29, 2026.

The Red Raiders announced that he would compete for the backup quarterback role behind Will Hammond. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire described Castellanos as an experienced quarterback whose athleticism could provide another dimension to the offense.

The move gives Texas Tech a quarterback with substantial college experience.

Before arriving in Lubbock, Castellanos had appeared in 38 college games and made 32 starts. Across those games, he completed 477 of 816 passes for 6,449 yards, 48 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,984 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Tommy Castellanos Texas Tech Stats

His previous college statistics show why Texas Tech valued his experience.

Texas Tech’s official bio confirms the career totals and describes Castellanos as one of only 10 FBS quarterbacks since 2022 to record at least 6,000 passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards.

Tommy Castellanos 2025 Stats

Castellanos’ final season at Florida State was his most productive passing season.

He started all 12 games for the Seminoles in 2025. He completed 180 of 309 attempts for 2,760 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

He was also an important runner. Castellanos rushed for 557 yards and nine touchdowns.

Texas Tech notes that his nine rushing touchdowns were the most by a Florida State quarterback in a single season. He also led the FBS with an average of 15.3 yards per completion.

His season included a notable opening-day performance against Alabama. Castellanos completed nine of 14 passes for 152 yards and also produced a rushing touchdown in Florida State’s 31-17 victory.

Tommy Castellanos NIL Valuation

NIL has become another major part of the story surrounding Castellanos.

On3’s NIL profile listed Castellanos with a $375,000 NIL valuation, updated July 7, 2026. On3 describes this figure as a market-based NIL valuation.

However, readers should not confuse that figure with a confirmed NIL contract.

An NIL valuation is an estimate of an athlete’s market value. It does not necessarily mean that the athlete received that exact amount in NIL payments.

There is also no widely reported public document confirming a specific Tommy Castellanos NIL deal with Texas Tech for an exact dollar amount. Therefore, claims that he signed a particular NIL contract should be treated cautiously unless supported by a direct report from the school, athlete, collective or another reliable source.

Another NIL-focused database, The NIL Standard, has listed different estimated figures at different times, further demonstrating that these numbers can vary by methodology and update date.

Did Tommy Castellanos Have an NIL Deal at Texas Tech?

There is a difference between an NIL valuation and an NIL deal.

As of the latest available information, On3 lists Castellanos with a $375,000 NIL valuation, but a specific publicly disclosed Texas Tech NIL agreement for that exact amount has not been established in the sources reviewed.

Therefore, the safest description is that Tommy Castellanos has an estimated NIL valuation of $375,000, rather than saying that he signed a $375,000 NIL contract with Texas Tech.

This distinction matters because NIL valuations are estimates, while an NIL deal represents an actual agreement between an athlete and a brand, collective or other entity.

What Is Tommy Castellanos’ Ethnicity?

Tommy Castellanos’ ethnicity is less clearly documented in authoritative sports biographies.

Texas Tech’s official profile identifies his parents as Thomas Castellanos III and Yukia Castellanos and notes that he is one of 12 siblings. The university biography does not provide an official ethnic classification.

Some media reports have described Castellanos as having a mixed background and have discussed Hispanic heritage associated with his father’s family. However, those reports should be distinguished from an official statement by Castellanos himself or his family.

Because ethnicity is a personal identity, it is better not to assign a specific ethnic label solely from a surname or family assumptions.

What is publicly established is that Castellanos is American, was born in the United States and grew up in Waycross, Georgia.

Tommy Castellanos Family

Castellanos comes from a large family.

Texas Tech says he is the son of Thomas Castellanos III and Yukia Castellanos and one of 12 siblings. The university also notes that two of his older brothers played college football.

Football therefore has been an important part of the Castellanos family.

He is also a cousin of former Florida State running back Devonta Freeman, who earned first-team All-ACC honors and was part of Florida State’s 2013 national championship team.

Tommy Castellanos College Career

UCF

Castellanos began his college career at UCF in 2022.

He appeared in five games as a freshman and completed nine of 16 passes for 75 yards. He also rushed 14 times for 120 yards and one touchdown.

Boston College

His career changed significantly after transferring to Boston College.

In 2023, Castellanos became the Eagles’ starting quarterback and produced one of the most productive rushing seasons by a quarterback in school history.

He passed for 2,248 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 1,113 yards and 13 touchdowns.

That made him the first Boston College player to reach 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season.

In 2024, he played eight games and recorded 1,366 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns, along with 194 rushing yards and one rushing score.

Florida State

Castellanos transferred to Florida State for the 2025 season.

He started every game and posted career highs in passing yards with 2,760. He also added 557 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns.

His performance against Alabama immediately attracted attention, as Florida State opened the season with a 31-17 victory over the Crimson Tide.

Why Did Tommy Castellanos Return to College?

The answer is eligibility.

After the 2025 season, Castellanos initially pursued an NFL opportunity. He went undrafted and attended the Dolphins’ rookie minicamp.

A Kentucky court ruling subsequently opened the door for another college season for athletes in his situation. Castellanos then committed to Texas Tech.

The return gives him another opportunity to play college football after his original eligibility appeared to have expired.

It also creates an unusual career path: Castellanos can now compete in college after having already gone through the NFL draft process and participated in an NFL minicamp.

Tommy Castellanos Height and Position

Castellanos is listed by Texas Tech at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds.

His position is quarterback.

His dual-threat ability is one of the most notable parts of his game. His career rushing total of 1,984 yards shows that he has been much more than a traditional pocket passer.

His athleticism also helped him attract NFL interest, although his minicamp opportunity with Miami came as a receiver rather than quarterback.

Tommy Castellanos Career Overview

The career statistics and Texas Tech information come from the Red Raiders’ official roster and announcement, while the NIL valuation comes from On3’s market-based estimate.

What Is Next for Tommy Castellanos?

Castellanos enters Texas Tech with considerably more experience than a typical backup quarterback.

The Red Raiders added him after he had already played four college seasons and accumulated more than 8,400 combined passing and rushing yards. Texas Tech’s official announcement said he would compete for the backup position behind Will Hammond.

His experience also gives Texas Tech another option at quarterback if the team needs a mobile player capable of creating yards with his legs.

For Castellanos, the 2026 season represents another chapter in an unusual football journey. He went from UCF to Boston College, became a starter and dual-threat standout, transferred to Florida State, entered the NFL draft, participated in a Dolphins minicamp and ultimately returned to college football with Texas Tech.

Conclusion

Tommy Castellanos enters the 2026 season as an experienced Texas Tech quarterback with a substantial college résumé. His career includes 6,449 passing yards, 48 passing touchdowns, 1,984 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns across 38 games.

His NFL journey included going undrafted and participating in the Miami Dolphins’ rookie minicamp, but he was never on an NFL roster. A court ruling later opened the door for another college season, leading him to Texas Tech.

On the NIL side, On3 currently lists a $375,000 market-based NIL valuation, although that should not be presented as a confirmed $375,000 Texas Tech NIL deal.

As for his ethnicity, authoritative Texas Tech material does not provide a specific ethnic classification, so claims about his background should be treated carefully rather than inferred from his surname.

FAQs

Is Tommy Castellanos in the NFL?

No. Castellanos went undrafted and participated in the Miami Dolphins’ rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, but he was never on an NFL roster.

Is Tommy Castellanos playing for Texas Tech?

Yes. Texas Tech officially added Castellanos to its 2026 roster after he received another season of college eligibility.

What are Tommy Castellanos’ career stats?

He has 6,449 passing yards, 48 passing touchdowns, 28 interceptions, 1,984 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns in 38 college games.

What is Tommy Castellanos’ NIL valuation?

On3 lists his market-based NIL valuation at $375,000, updated July 7, 2026. This is an estimated valuation rather than confirmation of a specific contract.

Did Tommy Castellanos sign a $375,000 NIL deal with Texas Tech?

A specific Texas Tech NIL contract worth $375,000 has not been publicly established in the sources reviewed. The $375,000 figure reported by On3 is an NIL valuation.

What is Tommy Castellanos’ ethnicity?

His official Texas Tech biography does not specify an ethnicity. Some media reports have discussed Hispanic ancestry on his father’s side, but Castellanos’ own publicly documented ethnic identification is not clearly established.

How tall is Tommy Castellanos?

Texas Tech lists Castellanos at 5-foot-10.

Where did Tommy Castellanos play college football?

He played at UCF in 2022, Boston College in 2023 and 2024, Florida State in 2025 and Texas Tech beginning in 2026.