Tag Archives: Florida State University

Tommy Castellanos Declares for the NFL Draft

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Thomas (Tommy) Castellanos is ready for the big leagues…

The 22-year-old Afro-Cuban American college football quarterback for Florida State University has declared for the National Football League (NFL) draft after dropping his appeal for another year of college eligibility.

Tommy Castellanos

Castellanos thanked family, friends, coaches and teammates and “everyone who has supported me along this journey” in a statement posted on social media.

Just Win Management Group, which represented Castellanos during his legal fight, said it supported his decision.

“While the unique facts and circumstances surrounding the petition for an additional year of eligibility did create a path of viability, after careful review and consideration, we fully support Mr. Castellanos’ decision to forego that continued pursuit and focus his attention on preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft,” the agency said in a statement.

The NCAA initially denied Castellanos’ waiver request for a fifth season.

Castellanos, who transferred to Florida State last December after one year at Central Florida and two at Boston College, argued that college football’s sanctioning body should grant him another season because he played in only five games with the Knights in 2022.

Castellanos played against Tulane in the American Athletic Conference title game after starter John Rhys Plumlee aggravated a hamstring injury. Backup Mikey Keene opted out of the game because he wanted to preserve a year of eligibility before entering the transfer portal.

It’s moot now, with the 5-foot-11 Castellanos turning his attention toward preparing for the draft.

Castellanos completed 58.3% of his passes for 2,760 yards this season, with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also led the Seminoles (5-7) with 557 yards rushing and nine scores.

Miguel Nolla Developing Latin Trap-Themed Series “Trap Queen” for Freeform

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Miguel Nolla could be bringing a taste of Puerto Rican music to television.

Freeform has put Trap Queen, a music rich series created by the Puerto Rican Scandal and Roswell, New Mexico writer, in development with Danny Strong executive producing.

Television

An alum of the Disney•ABC Writing Program, Nolla will serve as showrunner on the Puerto Rico-set series.

The drama focuses on a gay young man who returns to Puerto Rico after a life-changing event. With the burgeoning local music scene as both the backdrop and the soundtrack, that move forces him to face family and romantic issues he thought he had left behind and never expected.

Trap music is a tenet of Southern hip-hop that bubbled up into the mainstream in the early 2000s from the likes of T.I., Jeezy and Gucci Mane. The term trap is a derivative of the Atlanta slang for a place where drugs are purchased and sold.

Over the decades the style has been picked up in various forms by artists from Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Cardi B and all the way to Taylor Swift.

Latin trap is the Puerto Rican subgenre that incorporates some of the island’s reggaetón style and other elements.

A former assistant to Shonda Rhimes, Florida State University grad, Nolla’s other credits include an episode of the Grey’s Anatomy web series, Freeform’s Stitchers, Showtime’s Hombre and Netflix’s First Kill, among more.

Santos Wins Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Award

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It’s official… Cairo Santos is the best kicker in college football for the 2012 season.

The 21-year-old Tulane University kicker, who was born in Brazil and played high school football in Florida, has won this year’s Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Award.

Cairo Santos

Santos beat out fellow finalists Dustin Hopkins from Florida State University and Caleb Sturgis from the University of Florida.

Tulane may have gone 2-10 this season, but Santos proved to be incredibly valuable to the Green Wave this season and was one of the team’s few bright spots.

Every time Santos came out to attempt a field goal, he converted. He made all 21 of his attempts, including a 57-yarder against Rice University to tie a school record.

“I just had such a good feeling about the kick … perfect snap, perfect hold, perfect operation,” said Santos about that remarkable kick. “It was amazing, one of the best balls I’ve ever hit in my life.”

In all, Santos has 12 kicks of 40 yards or longer.

Current NFL kickers Sebastian Janikowski, Mike Nugent, Kai Forbath and Dan Bailey are all past winners of the award, and this honor gives Santos an excellent chance to take his career to the next level.

While being a professional kicker is certainly not a stable job, NFL teams always have room for a reliable player with a big leg, and Santos has proven this season that he has both of those qualities.

The Green Wave junior is the second kicker from Tulane to win the honor, joining Seth Marler in 2001.