Doak Campbell Stadium went from raucous cheers to silent tension late in the second quarter. Thomas Castellanos had just launched a dart to Lawayne McCoy when he went down in a tangle of Kent State defenders. Fans held their breath as their senior QB tried to shake off a limp, hopping towards the sideline on one foot. Luckily, the Seminoles’ medical staff acted fast, and he was gingerly able to walk into the locker room as a weather delay paused the game. The fact he wasn’t carted off immediately was the first hopeful sign for Florida State fans.
Later, Thomas Castellanos faced the media with a clear indicator that the injury wasn’t severe. An X post on September 23 gave a breaking update on his health. “Tommy Castellanos says on SportsCenter that he feels 100% for Friday night in FSU’s first ACC game against Virginia,” it reported. “All good. All good. Just got rolled up a little bit but all good,” the QB said on Saturday night. “100% still. Obviously, a little scary but I’m perfect, I’m good.” Bold words from a player who knows both the weight of expectation and the fragility of a promising season.
HC Mike Norvell echoed that optimism, confirming the injury is manageable ahead of Friday night’s ACC opener at Virginia. When asked about Thomas Castellanos’ eligibility for 2026, he carefully dodged a firm answer. ““There really hasn’t been a change in ruling as of yet, so we’ll see how things progress,” he said. “We’ll see if there’s anything that does change, but right now it’s just about today.” Wise words from a coach balancing hope with patience.
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Before leaving the game, Thomas Castellanos was a machine. He had 10-of-13 passing for 205 yards with an interception, plus seven rushes for 54 yards and two touchdowns. Florida State fans can breathe easy for now but the road to Virginia won’t wait. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, and all eyes will be on whether their QB can lead the Seminoles into ACC play unscathed.