The lawsuits keep coming, and this time it’s former Florida State starting quarterback Thomas Castellanos hoping to take advantage of a Colorado judge’s ruling last week that granted 2022 athletes a blanket waiver.
As we previously reported, the ongoing run on lawsuits pertaining to the new five-year rule set forth by the NCAA has led to a plethora of athletes seeking one more season of college athletics during a time in which courts across the country are granting injunctions.
When the NCAA adopted its new age-based eligibility model, giving athletes five years to play five seasons, it made one critical decision that is being argued in courtrooms across the country on a daily basis: It excluded the 2022 recruiting class from the new rule.
Now, Thomas Castellanos is next in line to take the NCAA to court, which has become a massive problem for the organization over the past few months since adopting the new guidelines.
First reported by Pete Nakos of On3, with attorney Ryan Downton confirming to OutKick-Fox News that he will represent the athlete, along with Darren Heitner, Castellanos is seeking an injunction that would allow him to enter the NCAA portal outside of its normal window.
Last season with Florida State, the quarterback passed for 2,760 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also rushing for an additional nine touchdowns on the year.
“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,” plaintiff attorney Ryan Downton told OutKick-FOX News about the ongoing lawsuits being filed. “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.”
After only participating in five games during the 2022 season at UCF, Castellanos filed a waiver request with the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility. The quarterback transferred from Boston College to Florida State before the 2025 season.
Another problem that is affecting the NCAA right now is the amount of lawsuits being filed by athletes. In the court of public opinion, the jury doesn’t seem to be siding with the organization over the new guidelines standard.
One of the larger problems pertaining to the injunction granted by U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney of Colorado in her ruling last week that granted a blanket waiver to athletes who still had eligibility from the 2022 class are the actual number of roster spots available across college football.
Fall camps are already underway, and coaching staffs are still trying to decide whether or not they want to deal with the current confusion regarding the addition of athletes that are granted an additional year by the court system.
Since Judge Sweeney’s injunction ruling, which is being appealed by the NCAA, does not allow athletes to enter the transfer portal, Thomas Castellanos is suing for a portal window.
If a judge were to grant this motion, then the former Florida State quarterback will be allowed to find a new home while the Colorado injunction is still in effect, without the ramifications from the NCAA.
Also, Castellanos was not taken in the 2026 NFL Draft, though he did receive an invite to camp by one squad.
What happens next is to be determined.
But given the amount of courts granting injunctions to athletes on what feels like a daily basis, it’s hard to think Castellanos would not receive one as well.
The lawsuits against the NCAA just keep coming.
