The Maxwell Football Club named first-year Florida safety [autotag]Jordan Castell[/autotag] the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week on Tuesday.
Castell earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors on Monday, but this award covers all conferences. He recorded 10 tackles and one pass breakup in the third quarter. Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton took a shot deep from his own 31-yard line, but Castell was there.
Pro Football Focus graded Castell the highest among all Florida defenders during Week 3. He earned an 82.7 rating on defense — 79.0 as a run defender, 75.4 in tackling and 82.6 in pass coverage.
He played a team-high 66 snaps and allowed just one catch on four targets.
Castell didn’t make the Freshman of the Year Watch List in the preseason, but he could be added to it by midseason. The only Gator to make that list is Eugene “Tre” Wilson III, who has been equally effective on offense but could be out for a few weeks with an injury.
Head coach Billy Napier praised Castell for his poise as a first-year player on Monday.
“This kid has been through some things. He’s got some maturity,” Napier said. “He’s had to grow up. I think I really knew he could be special when I went to his school. You see him interact with teachers and administrators. He was a leader, just a guy who had a lot of presence about him.
“He showed up in January and has been about his business, and ultimately he’s playing well as a rookie for us.”
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