Texas Tech to Feature QB Thomas Castellanos More in Offense, Per Report

LUBBOCK -- Thomas Castellanos, the fifth-year transfer and backup quarterback to Will Hammond, is expected to receive an uptick in snaps for Texas Tech as the No. 13 Red Raiders host No. 22 Arizona at Galaxy Stadium Saturday afternoon, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Tech head coach Joey McGuire admitted to frustration around not giving Castellanos a single snap in last week's loss at Cincinnati, saying postgame that it was "a total failure."

Hammond has struggled in Texas Tech's offense, despite the Red Raiders holding a 6-1 record and a second-place standing in the Big 12. His six touchdown passes are the fewest in the conference, and his six interceptions are tied for the second-most.

Castellanos' late addition to the Texas Tech roster was seen as an insurance buy as Hammond enters his first season as the full-time starter after returning from an ACL injury that cut last season short.

Through seven games, Castellanos has appeared in five. Most of his snaps have come in low red zone situations where he becomes a threat as a rusher in addition to a passer.

However, the experienced Castellanos has not yet conducted a full drive on his own in the scarlet and black. Instead, he's subbed in and out with Hammond in certain situations.

Castellanos is 3/5 through the air for 45 yards with two passing touchdowns and one interception - which came on the Red Raiders' first play from scrimmage against Houston in Week 3.

Castellanos also has 15 rushes for 65 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

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Heading into Tech's second home game with a ranked opponent, McGuire said his staff would begin experimenting with ways that scheme up the offense to be simpler for Hammond's processing.

"We as coaches have to do a really good job of if we’re putting too much on him then find a way to simplify it, and then he has to do a good job of responding with the stuff that we’re asking him to do," McGuire said. 

Hammond recorded a season-low 41.8 passer rating against the Bearcats as Texas Tech scored just one touchdown in its handful of red zone trips. Cincy sacked Hammond four times, which matches a season-high against Tech.

"You do start cutting full-field reads down to a lot of half-field reads, which is a lot of college football," McGuire added. "One thing that he does well is like our double slants and different things where he gets the ball out fast, he’s done really well at that."

Offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich also expressed remorse about not playing Castellanos last week, though the coach pointed to Castellanos' ineligibility causing him to miss at least one game this season.

"Definitely when you have struggles like that you sit back on Sunday and wish you probably had used him [a] little bit more or game plan for him," Leftwich said. "Really, a lot of that had to do with him not being there for the two weeks with Colorado and Arizona State and the uncertainty there."

The Red Raiders face the Wildcats at 11 a.m. in Lubbock on Oct. 31.