The Red Raiders have endured a rollercoaster offseason. They were able to pull highly touted quarterback Brendan Sorsby out of the NCAA Transfer Portal when he committed to Texas Tech on January 4. On February 25, his former school, the Cincinnati Bearcats, sued him, claiming he never paid a $1 million exit fee included in his contract if he decided to enter the portal and transfer to another school within 30 days. The case is still ongoing.
Sorsby played in Texas Tech’s spring game before checking into rehab for a sports gambling addiction after placing hundreds of bets over a four-year span. On May 18, he was ruled ineligible by the NCAA due to various gambling violations. On May 29, Sorsby admitted to placing more than $90,000 in bets for friends and family, with nearly 40 bets placed on the Indiana Hoosiers, whom he played for in 2022.
Texas Tech went on to appeal that decision in a June court case, which ultimately led to the NCAA denying Sorsby’s reinstatement. On June 8, a local Texas judge granted Sorsby and Texas Tech an injunction against the NCAA, preventing the organization from enforcing Sorsby’s ineligibility ruling. The injunction stated that Sorsby would have to sit out Texas Tech’s first two games against Abilene Christian and Oregon State.
On June 18, Sorsby dropped his lawsuit against the NCAA while attempting to apply for the NFL Supplemental Draft, only to be denied by the NFL.
That decision has left Texas Tech in limbo after the program believed it had its starting quarterback for the upcoming season. After a strong offseason, Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire named Will Hammond the starter for the 2026 season. During his time at Texas Tech, Hammond has played in 12 games, accounting for 1,151 passing yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions.
Texas Tech finally has their guy…
Then, on Wednesday, August 25, former Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos committed to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, putting the program in another difficult decision with the season less than two weeks away. Do they go with Texas Tech veteran Will Hammond or highly touted journeyman Thomas Castellanos, who has played for UCF, Boston College and Florida State during his four-year college career?
In 12 games for the Seminoles last season, Castellanos accounted for 2,270 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while adding 557 rushing yards on 137 carries and nine rushing touchdowns. Castellanos started his Florida State career with a bang, leading the Seminoles to a 31-17 upset over No. 8 Alabama on August 30.
Castellanos went undrafted in this year’s NFL Draft and had minicamp tryouts with the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans while attempting to transition from quarterback to wide receiver. After not receiving a contract from either organization, he decided to return to college. A Kentucky judge granted Castellanos a temporary injunction against the NCAA, allowing him to receive a fifth year of eligibility before entering the transfer portal and committing to Texas Tech.
Now, we will see who Texas Tech rolls out as QB1 when the Red Raiders take the field against Abilene Christian on September 5.