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LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Tommy Castellanos started at quarterback over Will Hammond for No. 13 Texas Tech against No. 22 Arizona on Saturday, a week after the first loss of the season for the Red Raiders.
The Florida State transfer led the first opening touchdown drive since the season opener for Texas Tech, capping the 13-play, 75-yard march with a 24-yard pass to Terrance Carter Jr.
Castellanos kept the drive alive with a 7-yard run on fourth-and-2 and converted a pair of third downs, including one with another scramble.
Coach Joey McGuire made the QB change after Hammond and the Red Raiders struggled in a 37-24 loss at Cincinnati, prompting McGuire to say he was “as frustrated as I've ever been in 32 years of coaching.”
The start came a day after the latest court ruling preserving the eligibility of Castellanos and 29 other athletes who sued over the issue of whether they should get a fifth season under the NCAA's new five-for-five model.
It was actually the second start for Castellanos, but the first one was a change-of-pace decision before Hammond came in. Castellanos threw an interception on his first play in another AP Top 25 matchup at home, a 28-26 victory over Houston. This time, Castellanos was still in the game into the second quarter.
Castellanos started all 12 games for the Seminoles in what was expected to be his final college season last year. He went undrafted and had a tryout with the Miami Dolphins but was never on the roster. He joined the host of athletes seeking another year of eligibility and signed with Texas Tech.
The addition of Castellanos was part of a summer of turmoil at quarterback for Texas Tech. The Red Raiders spent most of the offseason believing Brendan Sorsby could be the starter before the gambling saga that ultimately ended Sorsby's college career.
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