Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos has left the team after coach Bill O’Brien told the junior the Eagles were making a switch to Grayson James as the team’s starter.
O’Brien said during a radio interview Thursday with the “Greg Hill Show” that he met with both quarterbacks to inform them of the switch on Sunday.
“Tommy obviously was not real thrilled about that. He’s decided to leave. We wish Tommy the best. We think very highly of him, and we wish him the best. But we’re going to rally around Grayson. We have a lot of confidence in Grayson,” O’Brien said.
Castellanos started eight of BC’s first nine games, throwing 18 touchdown passes and five interceptions, but he had his worst game of the season in a home loss to Louisville three weeks ago and then was benched for James last week against Syracuse.
Head Coach of BC football Bill O’Brien joins! What happened with Castellanos? Thoughts on Grayson James at QB? #NCAA @WEEI pic.twitter.com/p2gai8qnwE
— The Greg Hill Show (@TheGregHillShow) November 14, 2024
The Eagles (5-4) snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Orange to move within a game of bowl eligibility. James went 5 for 6 for 51 yards and a touchdown against Syracuse.
James is a transfer from Florida International in his fourth season of college football.
Castellanos was in his second season as a starter for BC after leading the Eagles to a bowl game last year while throwing for 2,248 yards and rushing for 1,113 and 13 touchdowns.
Castellanos hasn’t been used as much as a runner in the first season with O’Brien as coach, with just 194 yards rushing and a touchdown, but should expect to draw plenty of interest if he enters the transfer portal.
“There’s nothing more important than being honest with a player. If you’re not honest with a player, you have no chance at having a winning football team. Absolutely no chance. Sometimes, these guys don’t like what they hear. But at the end of the day, that’s my job,” O’Brien said during the interview on WEEI.
BC plays at SMU on Saturday before closing the season with a home game against North Carolina and a road game against Pitt.
(Photo: Maddie Malhotra / Getty Images)
