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Boston College football coach Bill O’Brien announced a change under center for the Eagles ahead of a matchup against SMU. Former starter Thomas Castellanos is set to be replaced by transfer Grayson James.
Castellanos has started 20 games for the Eagles over the last two seasons. This year, he’s thrown for 18 touchdowns and just five interceptions to lead the team to 4-4 overall record.
Of those four losses, two have come by one score to teams currently ranked in the Top 25 (Louisville, Missouri). He was injured in his most recent contest against Syracuse, giving his reserve an opportunity to get in the game.
Grayson James wouldn’t disappoint! Castellanos was just 2-for-7 before exiting the matchup. He totaled 14 yards, a touchdown pass, and a pick. James went 5-for-6 with 51 yards and a score.
Boston College was largely carried by a ground game that rushed for over 300 yards, but James did enough to impress his coaches. Bill O’Brien decided to make a change with a trip to No. 13 SMU up next.
“Tommy has done a great job for us. He’s an awesome competitor. We have a lot of respect for Tommy. Obviously, he wasn’t real thrilled with that so he’s taking a couple days (away from the team), so I’ll get back to you on that one. But, Grayson James will be the starter.”
-Bill O’Brien
Thomas Castellanos opted to take some time away from the team following the benching. Bill O’Brien wouldn’t detail how long that absence could last. It seems he’d be hard-pressed to play in the team’s upcoming matchup against the Mustangs, and the future after that point is unclear.
We’ve seen players remove themselves from the starting lineup this season citing issues with both NIL and playing time. Many of those decisions were made early in the year as to allow players a chance to save eligibility.
Castellanos has already played more than the allotted four games, meaning his redshirt is off the table. That doesn’t mean he couldn’t start a conversation with a new suitor as he looks to regain a starting role.
Of course, a potential transfer at this point is all speculation. He could very well return to play for the Eagles by season’s end. The quarterback posted a message to his Instagram story shortly after news of his demotion went public. It didn’t offer much clarity!
Instagram: @tommycasto_
Castellanos is taking the moment to reflect. Soon after posting the story, he made his Instagram account private. It seems he needs time to recenter.
The social media activity does little to quiet transfer rumors, however. It will be interesting to see what his next steps are in terms of his college football career.
Update: Thomas Castellanos will enter the transfer portal
Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos is expected to enter the transfer portal, per @PeteNakos_ pic.twitter.com/NYAYubmnXx
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 13, 2024
It appears his time at Boston College has come to an end.