Backup quarterback Thomas Castellanos will be at the Texas Tech game against Colorado on Saturday, Oct. 3, but a court order has barred him from playing. The athletics department confirmed that Castellanos will attend the game in street clothes at Folsom Field.
Castellanos appeared in the opening four games of the season under a court ruling that allowed members of the class of 2022 to claim a fifth year of eligibility. This ruling conflicted with the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility model, known as 5 for 5, which expired Castellanos’ eligibility after four playing seasons without a redshirt year, effectively ending his college career following last season.
A court ruling issued Friday in Kentucky dissolved the temporary restraining order that had permitted Castellanos and other players in the suit to continue playing. Texas Tech officials received word of the updated court decision while en route to Colorado and confirmed the quarterback would not be active for the game.
The Red Raiders face Colorado with a relatively healthy roster. Starting tight end Terrance Carter Jr. was seen on the field during early pre-game warmups wearing team workout attire and was listed as probable in the Big 12’s Friday availability update.
Texas Tech expects to regain several special teams contributors who missed games earlier in the season. Defensive backs Amier Boyd, Mikal Harrison-Pilot, and Oliver Miles III, all sidelined for the past two games, were not listed on the Friday injury report, suggesting they could return against Colorado.
Meanwhile, backup cornerback Ashton Hampton, an important special teams player last year, will remain out. He has yet to appear this season and was again listed as unavailable. Backup linebacker Adam Hill will also miss his second consecutive game.
The decision on Castellanos follows months of legal uncertainty surrounding NCAA eligibility rules. The 5 for 5 model restricts participation based on age rather than traditional redshirt and injury designations. The initial court order that allowed Castellanos to play represented a challenge to this new model, but the recent ruling has now ended that exception.
Texas Tech’s quarterback depth will be tested without Castellanos, who had contributed as a backup early this season. The team must rely on its other options to fill the role as they prepare to face Colorado on their home turf.
This development adds another layer to Texas Tech’s ongoing season challenges as they navigate injuries and roster changes. The latest court decision ensures Castellanos will be limited to a spectator role at Folsom Field on Saturday.
According to Yahoo Sports.
