Texas Tech had more courtroom drama this season, as quarterback Thomas Castellanos was deemed ineligible after the Kentucky Court of Appeals dissolved the temporary restraining order that allowed him to play for the Red Raiders.
LUBBOCK -- A whirlwind offseason has now bled into the regular season for Texas Tech, as fifth-year quarterback Thomas Castellanos is now ineligible to suit up for the Red Raiders following another courtroom decision.
According to reports, the Kentucky Court of Appeals dissolved the temporary restraining order that was previously issued by Judge Brian Edwards for nearly 40 student-athletes in the state.
This initial ruling provided protection for these athletes that were seeking to take part in their respective sport at their respective program for a fifth year, which aligned with the latest NCAA eligibility guidelines.
Castellanos was one of these athletes believed to be covered for this season and chose to bring his talents to Texas Tech for his final run at the collegiate level.
In his previous appearances this season, Castellanos has notched a pair of scores on the ground and through the air in a relief role for starter Will Hammond.
Now, Castellanos future in Lubbock has been thrown into jeopardy in the same way it was for most of the offseason.
Although it struck down the previous protection for Castellanos and the other athletes, the appeals court focused more on potential mistakes in the legal process rather than the merits of the case made by the plantiffs.
The three-judge panel determined that the TRO granted by Edwards should have rather been a temporary injunction, which was an argument made by the NCAA so it could be reviewed by the appeals court.
Despite the reversal, the panel said that all of the athletes including Castellanos are still able to pursue a temporary injunction from the lower courts and essentially begin the process all over again.
WHAS11 News of Louisville spoke with Hans Poppe, one of the lawyers representing the athletes in the case, who said that they are attempting to get another hearing within the next week.
In the meantime, Texas Tech has a date with Colorado out in Boulder on Saturday and the Red Raiders may have to make some last minute adjustments to their game plan.
The program confirmed Friday afternoon that Castellanos will not suit up for the team, in accordance with the latest development from the court.
While he is not the starting quarterback for the Red Raiders, Castellanos had provided Texas Tech with an option to be more dynamic on offense, especially in the red zone.
It is unknown what the Red Raiders' plan is moving forward with Castellanos, but they will at least have to spend their first game apart from the quarterback this season during their first trip to Boulder since 2010.
