Questions about who the backup quarterback is for UCF seemingly got answered in its spring game.
Sophomore quarterback Thomas Castellanos took some first-team reps as John Rhys Plumlee was making his trek from baseball to football on Friday night, then took most of the second-team reps in the first half at FBC Mortgage Stadium.
But Castellanos has his eyes on something more as UCF heads into the Big 12 Conference this season.
“Hopefully, I do turn out to be QB1,” he said. “If not, I’m going to be No. 2, and I’m the future of this place.”
Castellanos completed 7-of-13 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. The sophomore connected with redshirt senior Dionte Marks for a 29-yard touchdown pass with 4:10 left in the first quarter.
The throw showcased what’s going to be a more aggressive and vertical passing offense under new offensive coordinator Darin Hinshaw, who has taken over play-calling duties from coach Gus Malzahn.
Castellanos’ longest completion went for 37 yards to Marks, and Plumlee’s longest pass was a 70-yard touchdown to senior wide receiver Kobe Hudson.
“When coach Hinshaw came in, and Gus brought him in, he told us we were going to throw the ball down the field,” Castellanos said. “Spread it around and get it down the field. We started off rusty because we’re learning a new offense, but you can see the progress and improvement.”
With spring football wrapped up on Tuesday, Malzahn touted the growth he’s seen from the second-year quarterback. Castellanos feels he improved most as a leader during spring football.
“From my freshman [year] coming into my sophomore year, I’m louder,” he said, “talking to the guys and leading the guys.
“When I go with the twos, I’m more of a leader because I know some of those guys might not know what they’re doing.”
Castellanos appeared in five games as a freshman, most of the time with the outcomes already decided. He was thrust into action in the AAC championship game against Tulane on Dec. 3 for an injured Plumlee.
Castellanos only completed 2-of-8 passes for 7 yards and ran for 14 yards on 7 attempts in the Knights’ 45-28 loss. If he finds himself in a similar situation in 2023, he believes he’ll be much more prepared.
“I feel like last year was a learning point,” Castellanos said. “I should have been ready, and I wasn’t. So this year, I’m going to be ready for sure.”
