LUBBOCK — Texas Tech quarterback Thomas Castellanos can return to game action immediately after a Kentucky judge granted a temporary injunction Friday in the fifth-year eligibility lawsuit in which Castellanos is one of 38 petitioners.
Castellanos committed to the Red Raiders on Aug. 26, five days after a temporary restraining order granted in Kentucky made him eligible. He saw action primarily in short-yardage packages before being deemed ineligible on Oct. 2, when a Kentucky appeals court dissolved the injunction that had allowed him to play.
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Tech head coach Joey McGuire has previously said that despite the Oct. 2 ruling that Castellanos has continued to practice with the team, even with his eligibility in question. The Waycross, Ga., native has participated in four contests for Tech, totaling 79 offensive yards and four all-purpose touchdowns.
Friday’s ruling by Judge Brian C. Edwards of the Jefferson Circuit Court, Division 11, impacts players across several sports. According to On3 reporting, court documents state that the NCAA cannot prohibit athletes from playing even if they signed a professional contract with a sports organization as long as the contract was terminated and all money received was returned within seven days of the order.
Castellanos worked out for the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins as a wide receiver this offseason but did not sign a professional contract.
“The NCAA has allowed other athletes to compete through the COVID waiver, redshirts, hardship waivers, junior-college treatment, and professional-player treatment,” Kentucky Court documents from Friday stated. “The injunction would merely prevent the NCAA from selectively excluding the Class of 2022 from opportunities that other athletes have already been receiving.”
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The Red Raiders will take on Arizona State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Galaxy Stadium in Lubbock.
Texas Tech did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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This article originally published at Texas Tech backup QB Thomas Castellanos regains eligibility after new court ruling.