ORLANDO, Fla. — Second-year UCF quarterback Thomas Castellanos is among three players who entered their names in the transfer portal after the conclusion of spring practice last week.

The other Knights who entered the transfer portal are defensive lineman Keahnist Thompson and offensive lineman Ethan Mort.

Castellanos, who came to UCF as a standout from Ware County High School in Waycross, Ga., was one of two quarterbacks to see playing time behind starter John Rhys Plumlee last season. The other was Mikey Keene, who had started in the 2021 season and transferred to Fresno State following the 2022 season after helping UCF reach the American Athletic Conference Championship Game when Plumlee was injured. Castellanos saw action in five games for UCF last season and played significant time in UCF’s spring game on April 14.

Both quarterbacks have multiple seasons of college eligibility remaining. Plumlee decided to play a fifth season of college football after his first season as a Knight last season.

Castellanos recently had told the Orlando Sentinel that “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 (UCF).”

The only other quarterback with college playing time currently on the Knights roster besides Plumlee for next season is Timmy McClain. The former standout at Sanford Seminole High transferred to UCF last season after losing his starting spot at USF to transfer Gerry Bohanon before the start of the 2022 season. McClain redshirted and was on the scout team last season after the transfer.

Thompson, out of Lakeland High School, had been considered a key signee to UCF’s 2022 recruiting class. He appeared in two games for UCF last season and has four years of eligibility remaining.

Mort, 6 feet 6 and 290 pounds, came to UCF from Venice High School. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

The Knights are preparing for their first season in the Big 12 and have a new offensive (Darin Hinshaw) and defensive coordinator (Addison Williams).