Thomas Castellanos, formerly the starting quarterback for Florida State, has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, seeking an injunction that would permit him to enter the college football transfer portal outside of its normal window. The suit follows a recent ruling by a Colorado judge that granted a blanket waiver for athletes from the 2022 recruiting class, potentially impacting eligibility rules across college sports.
Castellanos, represented by attorneys Ryan Downton and Darren Heitner, is specifically requesting the ability to join the transfer portal while the current injunction remains in effect. This comes after the NCAA adopted a new eligibility model providing athletes five years to play five seasons, but notably excluded the 2022 class from this rule.
Last season with Florida State, Castellanos passed for 2,760 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also rushing for nine touchdowns. He participated in five games during the 2022 season at UCF before transferring to Boston College and then to Florida State for the 2025 season. Castellanos had previously filed a waiver request with the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility after his limited 2022 season.
Attorney Ryan Downton criticized the NCAA's stance, stating, "The NCAA is fighting tooth and nail to stop my clients from playing this year. Meanwhile, the NCAA is intensely lobbying Congress to pass the PCSA." He added, "The irony is that if the PCSA (Protect College Sports Act) became law today, all of my clients become immediately eligible and get to play this year. The NCAA is like a referee who thinks he’s bigger than the game he’s officiating - just do the right thing and get out of the way."
The recent injunction granted by U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Colorado, which the NCAA is appealing, has created uncertainty regarding roster management for college football teams as fall camps are underway. The legal challenges from athletes seeking eligibility are increasing, and Castellanos's lawsuit is part of this ongoing trend that is placing significant pressure on the NCAA's regulatory framework.