Jordan Castell taking a leadership role in year two with Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In high school, Florida sophomore Jordan Castell played cornerback and did so well enough to earn a four-star ranking. When he arrived at Florida, the Gators asked him to slide back to safety, a position he had little familiarity with. Then, they asked him to play right away.
Castell started the final 11 games of the season and his 660 snaps were more than any other player on the defensive side of the ball. There were some growing pains, for sure, but Castell played well for a freshman at a new position.
“Last year, there was a lot of things going on. I’m like, ‘Man, I ain’t never played around this many people before,” Castell said during fall camp. “This is crazy.’ All the fans, all the people, especially Tennessee. Tennessee was flying around the ball, as soon as they had a snap.”
In 2023, Castell was playing mostly on instincts and ability, the latter of which has impressed his teammates.
“He’s a natural. Super athletic. Knows where the ball is going to be. He’s a ball hawk,” senior linebacker Derek Wingo said of Castell. “To have that background, he can go sideline-to-sideline. That’s what you need as a free safety.”
Where Jordan Castell is making strides
Castell graded out as the fourth-best player on the Gators’ defense (75.6), according to Pro Football Focus. This season, he has that playing experience under his belt. He’s only a sophomore on the roster but how many sophomores across the country have more than 600 snaps? Take redshirt senior Asa Turner as an example. Turner started as a freshman for the Washington Huskies but played just 290 snaps. He has 1,602 snaps in his career but his per-game average is 18 less per game than what Castell played in 2023.
Castell didn’t show it but he was uncomfortable at times. Whether it was the crowds, speed of the game, or communicating, it was all new and he was learning. Heading into his sophomore season, all of that is old hat and now he’s able to play faster while also being the kind of communicator Florida’s defense needs at safety.
“The biggest thing for this year for him was just being vocal. He’s stepping up to his leadership role. Making sure guys are lined up where they’re supposed to be. Now he’s even being a leader for the younger guys in that room and that’s what it’s all about,” Wingo said of Castell. “Just passing things down to the guys younger so that we’re all able to get better as a whole. When you’re being a leader to others it’s really just helping you at the end of the day as well.”
The post Jordan Castell taking a leadership role in year two with Florida appeared first on On3.
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