TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos is appealing to the NCAA for another year of eligibility.
Attorney Darren Heitner announced Friday he's representing Castellanos in his legal fight after the NCAA denied the player's 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, believes 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.
Castellanos played “only because of circumstances beyond his control,” Heitner said.
“Just weeks after Tommy's participating, the NCAA issued a blanket waiver allowing future players in his exact situation to maintain their redshirt status,” Heitner said. “Players today can participate in four regular-season games plus a conference championship game without losing eligibility.”
Heitner added that Castellanos is “being penalized for the timing."
“Considering the postseason exemption that now exists, this case demands a fair resolution,” Heitner said.
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.
FSU coach Mike Norvell is returning for the 2026 season despite his team losing 13 of its last 16 games in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Norvell pledged to make “fundamental changes” to meet the program’s championship standard. It's unclear if Castellanos potentially playing another year in Tallahassee is part of Norvell's plan.
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Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos warms up before an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
HAVANA (AP) — Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Friday that his government has held recent talks with the U.S., marking the first time the Caribbean country confirms such speculation.
He said the talks “were aimed at finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences between our two nations. International factors facilitated these exchanges.”
He did not elaborate on those factors, or provide any details about the talks.
Díaz-Canel said no petroleum shipments have arrived on the island in the past three months, which he blamed on a U.S. energy blockade.
Cuba’s western region was hit by a massive blackout last week, leaving millions without power.
He said that Cuba, which produces 40% of its petroleum, has been generating its own power but that it hasn’t been sufficient to meet demand.
He said the lack of power has affected communications, education and transportation, and that the government has had to postpone surgeries for tens of thousands of people as a result.
“The impact is tremendous,” he said.
Díaz-Canel said more than 115 bakeries across the island have been converted to run on firewood or coal.
He added that 955 solar panels have been installed in rural homes and social centers, and that more solar systems will come online before the end of March that will add 100 megawatts to Cuba’s crumbling electric grid.
“Even with everything we’re putting together, we still need oil,” he said.
Díaz-Canel noted that production output also has dropped: “Without energy, no country can produce at normal levels. All of this has meant making adjustments to employment.”
Last month, Cuba implemented austere fuel-saving measures.
Díaz-Canel said that the purpose of the talks was to identify “bilateral problems that require solutions based on their severity and impact” and find solutions to them.
The president added that the aim was “to determine the willingness of both parties to take concrete actions for the benefit of the people of both countries. And in addition, to identify areas of cooperation to confront threats and guarantee the security and peace of both nations, as well as in the region.”
He noted that Cuba is willing to carry out the process on the basis of equality and respect for the countries’ political systems and for Cuba’s “sovereignty and self-determination.”
Critical oil shipments from Venezuela were halted after the U.S. attacked the South American country and arrested its leader.
The most recent blackout was blamed on a broken boiler at a thermoelectric plant that forced the shutdown of Cuba's power grid.
Authorities have noted that some thermoelectric plants have been operating for over 30 years and receive little maintenance given the high cost. U.S. sanctions also have prevented the government from buying new equipment and specialized parts, officials say.
Coto reported form San José, Costa Rica.
FILE - Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel attends the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)
