Thomas Castellanos’s NIL Value Skyrockets with Alabama Win
By Kristi Dosh
Last Updated on September 2, 2025
Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos made waves before the season by saying that Alabama “didn’t have Nick Saban to save them.” Then he backed it up with a 31–17 win over the Crimson Tide, sending his name, image and likeness value soaring.
But Castellanos isn’t just known for his playmaking. His unfiltered comments—whether about Alabama or his former team—might make him a fascinating case study in how confidence can supercharge NIL opportunities while also creating potential risks.
When Words Become Headlines
Castellanos entered the year with boldness to spare:
“I dreamed of moments like this. I dreamed of playing against Alabama. They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me.”
That kind of bravado became reality when Florida State stunned Alabama in Week 1. It wasn’t the only thing Castellanos said that made headlines, however.
Asked about his time at Boston College, where he transferred from last winter after being benched in favor of Grayson James and choosing to sit out the rest of the season, he shared:
“BC wasn’t the school for me. I wasn’t able to be myself, and I had to try to make myself be something I wasn’t. I just didn’t like it. Bill O’Brien and I butted heads early in the season. I got banged up a few games. We had a meeting, and it kind of blew up in my face. I did so much for that program, and I did everything that I could, and I just wasn’t repaid the right way.”
He also took a shot at his BC teammates:
“I feel like I tore the ACC up by my damn self for the last two years…”
That candor drew a public response from teammates and Boston College coach Bill O’Brien, who said:
“Tommy can think what he wants. We supported the hell out of Tommy…I wish him the best.”
You know that old saying about how all publicity is good publicity? That’s not always true when it comes to getting brand deals. No doubt, brands will be watching closely this season, not only to how he conducts himself on the field but off the field as well. Confidence and swagger can amp up value—just look at Coach Prime—but throwing other people under the bus rarely fares as well.
Castellanos gave credit to his FSU teammates and coaches, however, in his post-game press conference last night:
“It feels great. I relied on my teammates today, relied on my coaches. They put us in a position to go out there and execute and win. We came together today. We heard everything everybody said, we’d seen everything everybody said and we just added that fuel to the fire and we went out there and just played ball together. We went out there together and we executed. That’s it.”
Castellanos’s NIL Value
Castellanos is incredibly undervalued right now in the NIL market. If he was a stock, I’d take my chances right now and buy.
Reportedly, Castellanos came to FSU for $800,000-1,000,000 in NIL money. By comparison, Miami landed UGA transfer Carson Beck for $4 million, which could reach $6 million with incentives. Duke snagged former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah for a reported $8 million over the next two seasons, while Oklahoma landed John Mateer for a reported $3 million.
Agents surveyed by ESPN put Power 4 starting quarterbacks at $1.5-2 million, with the top guys at the position making more than $3-4 million.
Through his Opendorse profile, fans can currently send Castellanos offers for:
- Personalized video shoutouts starting at $33+
- Autographs starting at $54+
- Personal appearances starting at $73+
- Social media posts starting at $77+
If you could make a deal at these prices, Castellanos would be one of the most accessible high-profile quarterbacks in the NIL marketplace. I’d be shocked if these prices were accurate after last night’s big win.
A quick glance at Castellanos’s Instagram (currently at shows he has a deal with Hotel Indigo Tallahassee Collegetown, now the “Official Hotel of Thomas Castellanos.” He also appears to have a deal with Mitchum deodorant. I’d expect more brands to jump on board in the coming weeks.
Castellanos also has merchandise on his own site, TommyCastellanos.com, including shirts that say “Nick Can’t Save Them” and “Stand On What I Said” reduced from $35 to $31.17 following FSU’s 31-17 win.
NIL Strengths—and Risks
What makes Castellanos marketable is the same thing that makes him unpredictable: he commands attention. His brash personality resonates with fans, and as long as he delivers on the field—as he did against Alabama—his NIL brand will thrive.
But in the NIL era, outspoken athletes walk a fine line. A quote that generates buzz one week can stir controversy the next, which means Castellanos’s value is as tied to consistency and image management as it is to touchdowns and wins.
