Texas Tech welcomed quarterback Thomas Castellanos to Lubbock and confirmed he would be a backup option for the Red Raiders behind Will Hammond.
LUBBOCK - Texas Tech officially welcomed fifth-year quarterback Thomas Castellanos to Lubbock just a week shy of its season opener against Abilene Christian.
Castellanos also learned his role with the Red Raiders, as head coach Joey McGuire indicated that he would, in fact, serve as one of the team's other options under center behind Will Hammond.
"It has been our intention since this past December to carry six quarterbacks on our roster this season. With Tommy, we have an experienced quarterback who we believe can come in and help us win games, if needed," McGuire said.
This confirmation from the leader of the program helps squash out any inklings of doubt and rumors that the veteran passer was brought in to become the starter over Hammond.
Although the depth chart has not been finalized, it is a near certainty that Castellanos will earn the coveted No. 2 spot right behind Hammond over the other four challengers.
And it is understandable why this is the case, as Castellanos is fresh off a 12-game stint as the starter at Florida State and threw for over 2,700 yards and 15 touchdowns in Tallahassee.
With the aforementioned other stops and the numbers that go alongside them, Castellanos is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the sport this season.
Hammond is still the leading man, but no Texas Tech quarterback has gone a full season as the starter since Patrick Mahomes II was suiting up in Lubbock. And that unfortunate fact makes the second spot in Lubbock a potentially pivotal role.
While he will not be the primary passer for Texas Tech, that does not mean that Castellanos will be left standing on the sideline in most of the matchups for the Red Raiders.
"His [Castellanos] athleticism is also a great trait and will let us continue to expand our offense," McGuire emphasized.
During his four year career that included stops at UCF, Boston College and Florida State, Castellanos showcased lethality with his legs alongside his arm.
This fact could create an avenue for Castellanos to appear in specific situations that compliment his skillset, especially after the ACL injury suffered by Hammond last year.
Hammond was quite the dual-threat himself in the few games where he saw action for Texas Tech, but the uncertainty following this injury could prompt McGuire to look to Castellanos in these designed run scenarios.
Regardless of how or where he is used on the field, McGuire and Texas Tech seem thrilled to have another weapon at their disposal mere days before the latest season gets underway for the Red Raiders.
