Defensive back Sebastian Castro had a heck of a year for the Iowa Hawkeyes and is receiving the recognition he deserves. Announced on Wednesday, Castro was named the Our Esquina College Football Player of the Year.
“With a toughness and determination that defines the Latino community, Sebastian Castro was one of the biggest stars on Iowa’s stingy defense,” Our Esquina announced on social media with a graphic commemorating Castro’s achievement.
Castro was a cornerstone of the Hawkeyes defense that made it to the Big Ten Championship. He finished the season with 61 tackles and three key interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown against the Iowa State Cyclones that proved to be the difference maker.
With a toughness and determination that defines the Latino community, Sebastian Castro was one of the biggest stars on Iowa @HawkeyeFootball’s stingy defense.
Castro is Our Esquina’s 2023 College Football Player of the Year.
Congrats, @castro2x5!
🔥🇲🇽🇺🇸😀
https://t.co/7AxWy7RZrR pic.twitter.com/hqzt1pFEe3— Our Esquina (@OurEsquina) December 13, 2023
Our Esquina, translated in English to “our corner,” is a sports media company dedicated to “Amplifying Latino voices and stories.” Few have more experience in the sports media realm than founder Jose de Jesus Ortiz. Ortiz started covering baseball in 1997 and would spend 15 years as an Astros beat writer, a national baseball writer, and an international soccer writer at the Houston Chronicle.
He is also the first Latino to serve as president of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Throughout his time as a beat writer, according to the company’s about page, he looked for a place where “the Latino story was celebrated all year.” That induced him to create Our Esquina, giving a much-needed voice to his community.
With that voice, he’s been able to extol the praises of athletes from his corner of the world such as Sebastian Castro. The 2023 College Player of the Year award from Our Esquina is just the latest received by Castro after a fantastic season at Iowa’s CASH position. He was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection by league media, and an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick by league coaches. Most recently, Castro was named an Associated Press Third-Team All-American.
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