Gators freshman safety Jordan Castell. (Photo: Molly Kaiser/UAA Communications)
Castell Receives Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week Award
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 | Football
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After being named SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday, Castell is once again being acknowledged for his impressive performance against the Tennessee Volunteers in Week 3.
Castell has been named the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club on Tuesday. Castell is the first Gator freshman to receive the honor in 2023. His teammate Eugene Wilson III was named to the Freshman of the Year Watch List earlier this year.
The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week Award is an extension of the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award which has been presented to the College Freshman Player of the Year since 2018 and is named in honor of Shaun Alexander, a former standout at the University of Alabama.
Making his second consecutive start in his second career game, Castell accumulated ten tackles and one pass break up in Florida's win in The Swamp against Tennessee. In the previous two games (Utah and McNeese) Castell totaled seven and three tackles. In just sixty minutes of action, he doubled his season total to twenty. His work in the tackling department aided a Florida defense that was able to limit a Tennessee rushing attack, that was averaging 257.5 rushing yards per game prior to this week, to just one hundred yards on the ground.
According to Pro Football Focus, Castell's rush defense and tackling were graded as 78.9 and 75.4, respectively. These marks stood as second and fourth highest on the team.
However, Castell was not only successful in the tackling department. The Orlando native was able to break up a pass in the third quarter as Tennessee attempted to attack the Florida defense with a deep pass on 2nd & 10. Castell was able to place his hand in between the receiver's arms and perfectly time the deflection. In total he was targeted four times, only allowing one reception for sixteen yards. He recorded the highest pass coverage grade of any Florida defenseman on Saturday.
Overall, the freshman was evaluated as the top Florida defender with a rating of 82.7. He did so while also being tied with two other Florida defenders with the most snaps (66).
Castell has been named the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club on Tuesday. Castell is the first Gator freshman to receive the honor in 2023. His teammate Eugene Wilson III was named to the Freshman of the Year Watch List earlier this year.
The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week Award is an extension of the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award which has been presented to the College Freshman Player of the Year since 2018 and is named in honor of Shaun Alexander, a former standout at the University of Alabama.
Making his second consecutive start in his second career game, Castell accumulated ten tackles and one pass break up in Florida's win in The Swamp against Tennessee. In the previous two games (Utah and McNeese) Castell totaled seven and three tackles. In just sixty minutes of action, he doubled his season total to twenty. His work in the tackling department aided a Florida defense that was able to limit a Tennessee rushing attack, that was averaging 257.5 rushing yards per game prior to this week, to just one hundred yards on the ground.
According to Pro Football Focus, Castell's rush defense and tackling were graded as 78.9 and 75.4, respectively. These marks stood as second and fourth highest on the team.
However, Castell was not only successful in the tackling department. The Orlando native was able to break up a pass in the third quarter as Tennessee attempted to attack the Florida defense with a deep pass on 2nd & 10. Castell was able to place his hand in between the receiver's arms and perfectly time the deflection. In total he was targeted four times, only allowing one reception for sixteen yards. He recorded the highest pass coverage grade of any Florida defenseman on Saturday.
Overall, the freshman was evaluated as the top Florida defender with a rating of 82.7. He did so while also being tied with two other Florida defenders with the most snaps (66).
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