Texas Tech QB Thomas Castellanos Named Earl Campbell Tyler Rose National Player of the Week

Thomas Castellanos threw for 362 yards and five touchdowns, leading Texas Tech past West Virginia 53-48 on a Saturday night in Lubbock.

That late-night performance earned the quarterback The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week for the 10th week of the college football season. Cindy Smoak, Executive Director of SPORTyler and The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, announced the honor on Tuesday.

Castellanos added 102 rushing yards to his passing totals against the Mountaineers. That stat line made him the first player in Texas Tech history to throw for 350 yards, pass for five touchdowns, and rush for 100 yards in a single game.

Thomas Castellanos headlines Big 12 weekly awards for Texas Tech — Everything Lubbock

He also became the first quarterback from a Power Four conference to reach those numbers in a game since 2020. The victory pushed the No. 15 Red Raiders to an 8-1 overall record and a 5-1 mark in the Big 12.

The weekly recognition marks the fourth honor for Castellanos in a 24-hour window. He collected Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday, alongside selections to the Manning Award Stars of the Week and the Davey O’Brien Award Great 8 list.

Texas Tech QB Thomas Castellanos Named Earl Campbell Tyler Rose National Player of the Week — Photo: tylerpaper.com

The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, announced in 2012 by the Tyler Chamber and SPORTyler, honors the top offensive player in Division I football who exhibits the characteristics of Earl Campbell, including integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community, and tenacity. Nominees must either have graduated from a Texas high school or play at a four-year Division I Texas college.

Castellanos graduated from Ware County High School in Waycross, Georgia.

Thomas Castellanos Highlights vs. West Virginia — Big 12 Conference

Next up for Texas Tech is another late game on Saturday night at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Red Raiders face Oklahoma State at 8:30 p.m. with a national television broadcast on ESPN.

Week 10 Honorable Mentions and Previous Winners

Previous winners of the award leading up to week 10 include Kevin Jennings for Week 1, Drew Mestemaker for Week 2, Michael Hawkins Jr. for Week 3, Keelon Russell for Week 4, DJ Lagway for Week 5, Patrick Overmyer for Week 6, Conner Weigman for Week 7, Hauss Hejny for Week 8, and Tayven Jackson for Week 9.

Honorable mentions for the 10th week of the season feature Arch Manning, Davian Jackson, DJ Lagway, Drew Mestemaker, Jackson Gutierrez, Jahiem White, Keelon Russell, Kevin Jennings, Landon Sides, Raleek Brown, Samuel “Tote” Harris, Torrance Burgess Jr., and Yamir Knight.