Thomas Castellanos is a collegiate football player. (Image Source: FanSided)
“Grief comes in waves, and each wave will carry you forward to the next step.” Similarly, Thomas Castellanos, who recently committed to Florida State University, is fueled by the memory of his late brother.
In addition, the former Boston College quarterback draws strength from his mother’s resilience, who raised him along with his ten siblings.
Highlights
Thomas Castellanos was born on 26 August 2003 in Miami, Florida, to his parents, Yukia, and Thomas Castellanos Sr.
He is the eighth of eleven children born to his mother and late father.
The collegiate football quarterback tragically lost his father when he was only 3 years old.
At the age of 18, he faced another tragedy, the loss of his eldest brother, Akeem Jones.
The Miami, Florida-born quarterback began his football career at Ware County High School, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track and field.
In his junior and senior years, he threw for a combined total of 5,494 yards and 48 touchdowns and rushed for 1,907 yards and 37 touchdowns.
As a freshman at UCF in 2022, Thomas played in five games, completing 9 out of 16 passes for 75 yards before transferring to Boston College.
In 2023, Castellanos became the starting quarterback for Boston College.
He led the team to several victories, including a close game against third-ranked Florida State, and finished the season as the second-highest rushing quarterback in 2023 FBS football.
In 2024, Thomas continued as the starting quarterback, leading Boston College to multiple wins until an injury sidelined him.
In November 2024, he announced his decision to enter the transfer portal, and on 11 December, he announced via social media that he committed to Florida State.
However, his journey has not been without struggles. He doubted his decisions and felt confused and lost at times. But eventually, he discovered his purpose.
Thomas Castellanos Said His Mother, Yukia Is The Reason He Is Who He Is Today
As aforementioned, Castellanos was born in Miami and moved to South Georgia with his family as a toddler.
His father, Thomas Castellanos Sr., passed away when he was just 3-year-old, leaving his mom responsible for 11 kids.
New FSU QB Thomas Castellanos (5’9/196) Rank Among ALL FBS QBs in 2023 🍢 47 Explosive (10+) Runs (1st) 🍢 77 Rushing 1st Downs (1st) 🍢 13 Rushing Touchdowns (T-1st) 🍢 1,222 Rushing Yards (2nd) 🍢 50 Missed Tackles Forced (T-2nd) 🍢 568 Yards After Contact (4th) pic.twitter.com/kKkWDgJ60Y
Thomas faced another tragedy. Two days after Christmas in 2021, right before he ventured to college, Castellanos’ oldest brother, Akeem Jones, passed away.
Thomas said, “Akeen Jones was like the head of the snake,” adding that it was almost like the head getting chopped off when he passed away.
“It weakened me. Mentally, I was confused, and I was lost.”
Despite the pain, he tried to forge on, but an unfamiliar feeling of emptiness weighed him down.
Due to this, Castellanos thought of quitting football, but his late brother’s lessons helped him stay afloat.
Thomas’s eldest brother was once a quarterback at Garden City Community College in Kansas.
According to Thomas, Akeem Jones always believed in him, even when others didn’t.
Thomas Castellanos Questioned His Faith And God After Losing His Brother Akeem Jones
As a child, Castellanos was always larger than his peers and found himself playing right guard by the age of five.
Watching his other brother, LeDedrick, earn all the glory as a quarterback, young Thomas yearned for his own moment in the spotlight.
His natural talent didn’t go unnoticed. By middle school, prestigious schools like Georgia and Miami were already showing interest in him.
Castellanos excelled in multiple positions, including quarterback and middle linebacker, showcasing his versatility.
Throughout high school, he amassed an impressive 11,000 yards, earning offers from various schools, including Kansas, Coastal Carolina, and Akron.
The young athlete visited UCF after his brother Jones inspired him to do so. He said Jones always believed in his potential to play for top-tier programs like Alabama and always encouraged him to dream big.
Losing such a figure was certainly a big blow to him. Castellanos said he questioned his faith and wondered why God would let this happen.
“I was trying to keep going, but it was a big struggle.”
In addition to pain, Castellanos also realized how fragile life is. He turned to church, prayed, and found himself again before entering the transfer portal.
Although he had limited playtime at UCF, he received over 20 offers. BC coach Jeff Hafley reportedly saw his film and thought, “This kid’s dynamic.”
At 5-foot-10 and 196 pounds, Castellanos followed his gut and committed to BC in April 2023. Visiting Boston for the first time left his mind racing.
While he still feels the pain of the loss of his brother, day by day, he’s rediscovering his purpose.
“Now, I’m doing what I dreamed of doing. I am who I dreamed of being.”
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