Texas Tech's Thomas Castellanos Brings New Life to Red Raiders Offense

LUBBOCK, Texas -- It's Thomas, not Tommy.

I suppose that's one example of the maturity that comes with being a fifth-year senior.

MORE: Tommy Castellanos' Legs Spark Texas Tech's 34-26 Comeback Win Over Arizona

"I feel like Tommy was the last four years," transfer quarterback Thomas Castellanos said. "It's like Tommy was given to me. I never asked to be Tommy. I never chose to be Tommy. People just started calling me Tommy, and I just accepted it. But I want to be called Thomas now."

Well, whatever coach Joey McGuire called him this week, Castellanos answered with authority. Castellanos rushed for 117 yards and threw for 144 in his first full game behind center to lead Texas Tech to a 34-26 win over Arizona, which moves the No. 13-ranked Red Raiders to 7-1 and 4-1 in Big 12 play.

Castellanos was 11-of-24 through the air for 144 yards and two touchdowns in addition to his strong ground game and third touchdown rushing. The 46 percent completion isn't completely out of the ordinary for the former Boston College and Florida State starter, who holds just a career 58 percent completion mark.

But the Red Raiders found a spark in Castellanos' rushing ability that was absent from the offense with former primary starter Will Hammond at the helm.

McGuire said Texas Tech chose to go with Castellanos in part because the teams that have had success against Arizona have been those with run-heavy quarterbacks.

Castellanos' run option offense with running back J'Koby Williams allowed both to surpass 100 rushing yards, including the latter taking a 64-yard carry to the house to put the game out of reach.

Texas Tech had a season-high 328 yards on the ground in total.

"He's doing his job," Williams said of his new backfield partner. "We just go out there and we do our job and we listen to coaches. ... and we trust each other."

"Whenever we were trying to decide who would start at quarterback Sunday and Monday, ... a lot of it was how we could play to Tommy's strengths," McGuire said. "We have had that [mesh run package] stuff in, we just majored in it a little bit more today. Man, it paid off for us."

(The coach spoke before the quarterback alerted the media of his name preference).

Although Hammond had recorded 1,561 passing yards, the eighth-most in the Big 12 this season, the Texas Tech offense has stalled at times due to his six interceptions matching his passing touchdown total.

McGuire commended both Castellanos and Hammond for their unselfishness, regardless of who he might've chosen to quarterback the Red Raiders.

"I'll tell ya, ... Will Hammond is just incredible," McGuire said, "because the one thing he said to me whenever I said [Castellanos] is fixing to get a lot more [first-team] reps - he said, 'Coach, all I want to do is win. So, whatever we need to do, I'm gonna prepare to play, and just find a way to win the game."

Castellanos, who did not receive a single snap in Tech's loss at Cincinnati last week and has battled through eligibility uncertainty with his fifth-year injunction, admitted to getting down on himself earlier in the season. But he stayed faithful ahead of this full-sample debut.

"When I found out, it was amazing," he said after hearing he'd get the start. "Obviously me and Will both want the best for the team and that's to win."

Seven of Castellanos' carries went for first downs, which were crucial in the second half as the Texas Tech defense made things hard on Arizona's star quarterback Noah Fifita. Five sacks and only 12 rush yards allowed kept the Wildcats at bay while the Red Raiders came back from a deficit as large as 10.

Castellanos said there's still things he needs to improve, saying he was "rusty" at times shooting to downfield targets, but his elusiveness gave Texas Tech's much-scrutinized offense a new look that is hard to ignore moving forward.

"I thought he gave us juice today," McGuire said. "It was great leadership from him. There's a confidence. He's played a lot of football. I thought you saw a very experienced quarterback out there today and made some really good plays. I thought he played really well, and we just got to build on that."

As for the plan next week, McGuire said Castellanos will likely be the first-team quarterback in practice as the team watches film and makes adjustments from the win. Then, a similar decision will come on whether Castellanos or Hammond gets the start for Tech's next matchup, a home game against West Virginia.

LIVE BLOG: Updates from Texas Tech's Win Over Arizona

Castellanos let out a deep sigh as he was asked about his pending status surrounding his eligibility, and now potentially his job as the starting quarterback for the home stretch of the season.

"We have a great team," he said. "I just want to do my job and help the best I can to win. I just want to win. ... I don't care if I play, I don't care if I'm used in the red zone just to run it, or whatever it is, I just want to win a championship. That's it."