When you think of star quarterbacks from Boston College, names like Doug Flutie, Matt Ryan, and Tim Hasselbeck likely come to mind. More recently, Anthony Brown and Phil Jurkovec have left their marks, though their BC careers had ups and downs before they moved on to other programs. Boston College has found their future star quarterback in Thomas Castellanos, a transfer from UCF.
Many might not know that Castellanos was highly sought after even in middle school, with schools like Georgia showing interest as early as 8th grade. Although his recruiting stock dipped somewhat, he found his way to UCF before transferring to Boston College. In 2023, Castellanos had a breakout season, emerging as one of college football’s best-kept secrets. Today, we will explore why Thomas Castellanos is a name to watch.
Castellanos, Boston College’s new quarterback, possesses legitimate superstar potential. With another standout season in 2024, he could easily find himself on the NFL radar. Despite Boston College facing significant challenges, Castellanos has the potential to change the narrative and elevate the program.
So, let’s dive in and get to know Thomas Castellanos. To understand how he reached this point, we must take a step back and examine his journey.
Thomas Castellanos was the eighth of eleven children in a single-parent household in Waycross, Georgia. Born in Miami, he moved to South Georgia as a toddler. Tragically, his father passed away when he was just three years old, leaving his mother to work overtime as a nurse to ensure her children never missed a meal. Castellanos speaks highly of his mother’s strength and independence, often crediting her for his resilience and character. “I’m thankful for her. She’s the reason why I am who I am today,” he said.
Castellanos began playing recreational football at six, initially lining up as an offensive lineman. However, he soon realized that the position was not for him and switched to running back the following year, playing alongside his brother. “Since then, I have played for the local rec or travel teams every year, and I have loved the game of football,” Castellanos recalled.
Despite his status as a gifted athlete, there was a time when Castellanos struggled in sports. “I used to be terrible at basketball. I remember always shooting granny shots and missing almost all of them,” he admitted. Yet, his determination paid off, and he significantly improved, eventually winning MVP last year. This transformation highlights Castellanos’ athletic prowess and his potential as a rising star.
At Waycross Middle School, Castellanos played on the 8th-grade football team as a 6th grader, earning accolades as the best defensive player in football and the best offensive player in basketball. His immediate impact was undeniable, and by 7th grade, he was the team’s MVP, leading the Bulldogs to another conference championship.
Thomas Castellanos was the kind of football player every coach dreamed of having on their high school team. He was intelligent, coachable, and could dominate the game on every snap. One coach described him as “an 8th-grade highlight film whenever he is on the field.” Standing at 5’9″ and weighing 179 pounds, Castellanos excelled as a two-way player, taking on quarterback and linebacker roles.
What truly set him apart was his love for competition. “I love playing against the greats and striving to be the best,” Castellanos said. As he transitioned to high school, he was slotted into a read-pass-option style offense and was immediately seen as its future star. His mother shared his ambitious goals, saying, “He’d like to pursue a career in sports medicine. He wants to be a five-star athlete, get a Division I scholarship, and play professional football.” Remarkably, Castellanos would go on to achieve all these aspirations.
At Ware County High School, Castellanos quickly made a name for himself. By his junior year, he had led his team to a 10-2 record, throwing 2,800 yards and 23 touchdowns while rushing for 939 yards and 24 touchdowns. His impressive performance drew the attention of major college programs.
As mentioned earlier, schools like Georgia had their eyes on Castellanos even when he was in middle school. Although it’s unclear if he received an early offer like David Sills, his talent was evident, and he was heavily recruited. He received offers from Florida State, Georgia Tech, Kansas, FAU, and Coastal Carolina.
Ultimately, UCF and Florida State became the top contenders for his commitment. Florida State head coach Mike Norvell noted, “Thomas is somebody we recruited.” Despite the competitive recruiting landscape, Castellanos chose UCF, where he began his collegiate journey before transferring to Boston College, where he continues to shine.
“We were looking at him more as a running back or athlete,” said a Florida State scout about Thomas Castellanos. While Florida State envisioned him in a versatile role, UCF saw his potential as a quarterback. Despite taking two unofficial visits to FSU, Castellanos chose UCF over Florida State because he wanted to play quarterback, an opportunity FSU was unwilling to offer. “There are few signal callers who can make more out of nothing than Castellanos,” remarked one scout.
When asked why he chose UCF, Castellanos explained, “We’d been talking about it, and it had been on my mind. After getting that offer from Gus Malzahn, a big-time coach who wanted me as his quarterback, I was ready to go.”
However, tragedy struck just before his college journey began. Two days after Christmas in 2021, Castellanos lost his older brother, Akeem Jones. This devastating loss made him contemplate quitting football, but the lessons and late-night conversations he shared with his brother helped him persevere. Akeem, who had played quarterback at Garden City Community College in Kansas, always believed in Thomas, even when others did not. Castellanos decided to continue playing, honoring his brother’s memory and support.
Castellanos was a standout in high school, amassing over 11,000 total yards in his four years. According to 247 Sports, he was a 3-star recruit, ranked as the No. 33 athlete and the 545th-best player in the class of 2022.
Castellanos achieved his goal of earning a Division I scholarship and joined UCF, transitioning from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12. As a freshman at UCF, he played in five games, including a surprise start in the AAC Championship game against Tulane due to injuries and transfers within the team. Although his stats were modest—completing 9 of 16 passes for 75 yards and scoring a rushing touchdown against Temple—he showed promise but needed further development.
With UCF moving to the Big 12, Castellanos was hopeful about his role. “I’m looking forward to it this fall, and I’m hoping to be the starter. But if not, I’ll be number two, and I’m the future of this place,” he said. However, he eventually decided to enter the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining.
Castellanos committed to Jeff Hafley at Boston College, reuniting with his former teammate, wide receiver Ryan O’Keefe, who also transferred from UCF. He chose Boston College over Texas State, despite the presence of his former quarterback coach, G.J. Kinney, now at Texas State. Castellanos has already significantly impacted Boston College, positioning himself as a critical player to watch in 2024.
Ultimately, the Boston College Eagles won out. With Castellanos now poised to compete for the starting quarterback position at an ACC school, many initially believed it was Emmett Moorhead’s team to lead. However, Castellanos quickly demonstrated he deserved a chance. Although Moorhead started the first game of the 2023 season, his tenure as the starter was short-lived. By the third drive, Castellanos had taken over.
Despite Moorhead being prepared all summer to lead the team, it took just ten passing attempts before Castellanos stepped in. In that first game against Northern Illinois, Castellanos went 13 of 28 for 138 yards, with two passing touchdowns and 67 rushing yards, including a rushing touchdown. Although Boston College lost to Northern Illinois in overtime, Castellanos showcased his potential and secured his role as the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.
A standout moment in that game was an incredible fourth-down conversion. Castellanos scrambled 30 yards back, ran ten more yards to the right, and then threw a perfect pass just past the first-down marker, demonstrating a Patrick Mahomes-like play. This moment solidified his position, and he continued to impress.
He followed up with two touchdowns in a victory over Holy Cross and delivered a stellar performance against No. 3 Florida State. Despite being given no chance against the Seminoles, Castellanos amassed over 400 total yards with two touchdowns, and Boston College narrowly lost by just two points.
His impressive streak continued with four touchdowns and 400 yards against Louisville, although the team suffered another loss. Despite a 1-3 start, Castellanos helped turn the season around. He scored two touchdowns in a win over Virginia, four touchdowns in a victory over Army, two touchdowns in a win against Georgia Tech, a touchdown in a win over UConn, and two more touchdowns in a victory over Syracuse.
This remarkable run led Boston College to five consecutive wins, transforming their season from a potential write-off to a 6-3 record and bowl eligibility by early November. Unfortunately, Castellanos faced challenges towards the end of the year. He threw a touchdown and two interceptions in three straight games, leading to a blowout loss to Virginia Tech, a narrow defeat against Pitt, and another blowout loss to Miami.
By the end of the year, defenses were starting to figure out Thomas Castellanos, but he still had an impressive season. He threw for 2,146 yards with 15 touchdowns, although he did have a high interception count with 13. He was a force to be reckoned with on the ground, rushing 194 times for 957 yards and 11 touchdowns.
His season was marked by several standout moments, including a spectacular fourth-down conversion and a game-winning one-yard touchdown against Army. He achieved significant milestones, becoming the first Boston College quarterback to run for four touchdowns in a game, a feat last accomplished by A.J. Dillon in 2017. During the Eagles’ five-game winning streak, Castellanos tallied 11 total touchdowns, significantly elevating the team’s performance.
Castellanos also played a crucial role in their bowl game victory against No. 24 SMU, making him the first Boston College quarterback to throw for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. He remained relatively under the radar despite his breakout performance, turning a struggling Boston College team into a competitive force.
Faced with deciding whether to enter the transfer portal, Castellanos chose to stay with Boston College, committing to being the program’s centerpiece. While concerns remain about his passing accuracy, his two best games came against top-tier teams—300 yards against Florida State and 265 yards against Louisville—demonstrating his ability to rise to the occasion.
With Jeff Hafley departing to become the defensive coordinator at Green Bay and Bill O’Brien stepping in as head coach, there is optimism about Castellanos’ development. Known for his ability to develop quarterbacks, O’Brien is a good fit for Castellanos’ continued growth. Castellanos remains one of college football’s best-kept secrets, contributing significantly to his team’s success while receiving little recognition.
In 2024, there is potential for Castellanos to elevate Boston College further. Historically, the program has lacked standout quarterbacks, but Castellanos could change that narrative and help the Eagles regain prominence in the ACC. While there are concerns about his passing game, with the proper guidance from O’Brien, Castellanos could have a standout season and potentially attract NFL draft attention. Whether he becomes a day two or three pick remains to be seen, but his impact on Boston College could be transformative.
We will have to wait and see how Castellanos continues to develop and whether he can help lead Boston College back to the top of the ACC.
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