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Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos is officially turning pro, ending his legal battle for an extra year of eligibility and setting his sights on the 2026 NFL Draft.
Castellanos announced his decision on social media, thanking those who supported him throughout his college journey. The dual-threat QB had been fighting for a fifth year of eligibility after the NCAA initially denied his waiver request.
Just Win Management Group – which represented Castellanos in his appeal – backed his choice to move forward.
“While the unique facts and circumstances surrounding the petition for an additional year of eligibility did create a path of viability, after careful review and consideration, we fully support Mr. Castellanos’ decision to forego that continued pursuit and focus his attention on preparing for the 2026 NFL draft,” the agency said in a statement.
The 5-foot-11 signal-caller transferred to Florida State last December after stints at both Boston College and Central Florida. His eligibility case centered around his limited playing time at UCF in 2022, where he appeared in just five games.
Castellanos was thrust into action during UCF’s American Athletic Conference championship game that season when starter John Rhys Plumlee aggravated a hamstring injury. The Knights’ backup, Mikey Keene, had opted out to preserve eligibility before entering the transfer portal.
That’s now a moot point.
Despite Florida State’s disappointing 5-7 record this season, Castellanos showed flashes of his dynamic playmaking ability. He completed 58.3% of his passes for 2,760 yards with 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He also led the Seminoles in rushing with 557 yards and 9 scores on the ground.
Scouts will likely focus on Castellanos’ dual-threat capabilities as he prepares for the draft process. His decision to declare now gives him plenty of time to address any concerns about his size and passing accuracy before the 2026 draft rolls around.
