Tag: McCallan Castles

McCallan Castles signs with Eagles

Tennessee tight end McCallan Castles signs with Philadelphia Eagles.

The 2024 NFL draft was held Thursday-Saturday around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan.

Former Tennessee tight end McCallan Castles was not selected during the seven-round draft. He signed as an undrafted free agent with Philadelphia.

The 6-foot-5, 252-pound tight end appeared in 13 games during his only season with the Vols during the 2023 season. He totaled 22 receptions for 283 yards and five touchdowns.

Castles transferred to Tennessee from UC Davis ahead of the 2023 campaign.

He played at UC Davis from 2021-22, starting 28 games, and recorded 68 receptions, 928 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns.

Castles also played at California from 2018-19 before transferring to UC Davis, recording one reception for 15 yards.

McCallan Castles by the numbers in 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl

Former Tennessee tight end McCallan Castles by the numbers in the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl.

The East-West Shrine Bowl took place Thursday at Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, the indoor practice complex for the Dallas Cowboys.

West defeated East, 26-11.

Former Tennessee tight end McCallan Castles played for team East. He was targeted one time and did not record any statistics.

Castles appeared in 13 games for the Vols in 2023. He recorded 22 receptions for 283 yards and five touchdowns.

The 6-foot-5, 252-pound tight end transferred to Tennessee on Dec. 7, 2022 from UC Davis.

He played at UC Davis from 2021-22, starting 28 games, and recorded 68 receptions, 928 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns.

Castles played at California from 2018-19 before transferring to UC Davis, recording one reception for 15 yards.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Two Vols to play in East-West Shrine Bowl

Two Vols will play in the East-West Shrine Bowl on Thursday.

Two former Vols will compete in the East-West Shrine Bowl on Thursday.

Tight end McCallan Castles and running back Jabari Small will play in the all-star game, which will be contested at Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. Ford Center is the indoor practice complex for the Dallas Cowboys.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. EST and NFL Network will televise the game. The game benefits Shriner’s Children’s Hospital and is the longest running college all-star contest.

In one season with the Vols, Castles totaled 22 receptions for 283 yards.

Small appeared in 11 games for Tennessee in 2023. He recorded 475 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Jabari Small (2). Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

McCallan Castles discusses Vols preparing for Citrus Bowl

Tight end McCallan Castles discusses Tennessee preparing for the Citrus Bowl against Iowa.

Practices are underway for Tennessee in preparation for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against Iowa.

Redshirt senior tight end McCallan Castles met with media on Monday and discussed the sense in the locker room during preparations for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

“I think it’s just all the stuff that’s outside the field has blown over, and now it’s kind of just locking into who we are, just start practicing and getting that competitive edge going again,” Castles said. “This week, we have a normal slate of practices, so we’re just sort of getting back into our rhythm.”

Kickoff between the Vols and Hawkeyes is slated for 1 p.m. EST on Jan. 1, 2024. ABC will televise the matchup at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

McCallan Castles details Vols’ shift in energy after Florida game

Tennessee tight end McCallan Castles details the Vols’ shift in energy after the Florida game.

Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC) defeated UTSA (1-3, 0-0 AAC), 45-14, in Week 4 at Neyland Stadium.

Redshirt senior tight end McCallan Castles recorded two receptions for 19 yards in the Vols’ win.

Castles met with media on Monday. He discussed Tennessee’s shift in energy within the locker room following the Vols’ Week 3 loss at Florida, ahead of playing UTSA.

“I think we just showed up on that Tuesday for practice and you could tell everyone was ready to compete,” Castles said. “We just handled our business, ironed out the details that we messed up at Florida and performed at a higher level, doing the ordinary stuff that you should expect to do.”

PHOTOS: Vols are victorious against UTSA at Neyland Stadium

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Vols’ most intriguing offensive skill position players in 2023 fall camp

Tennessee’s most intriguing offensive skill position players in 2023 fall camp.

Tennessee kicked off fall training camp Aug. 2 at Haslam Field in preparation for the 2023 season.

The Vols will open its 2023 season versus Virginia on Sept. 2 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff between Tennessee and the Cavaliers is slated for noon EDT and will be televised by ABC.

The 2023 season will be Tennessee’s third under head coach Josh Heupel.

Heupel guided Tennessee to a 18-8 (10-6 SEC) record and two bowl appearances from 2021-22.

Tennessee’s 2023 football schedule

Offensive skill position players can be defined as quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends and wide receivers.

2023 will be quarterback Joe Milton’s sixth and final collegiate season. Freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava enters his first collegiate season after being the Vols’ highest-rated recruit in Tennessee’s 2023 signing class.

Following Tennessee’s first week during fall training camp, Vols Wire looks at the most intriguing offensive skill position players ahead of the season. Offensive skill position players, including running backs, tight ends and wide receivers, and excluding quarterbacks, are listed below.

Alec Abeln details development of transfer tight end McCallan Castles

Tennessee assistant coach Alec Abeln discusses development of transfer tight end McCallan Castles.

Tennessee kicked off fall training camp on Wednesday in preparation for the 2023 season.

Redshirt senior tight end McCallan Castles transferred to Tennessee on Dec. 7, 2022 from UC Davis.

The 6-foot-5, 252-pound tight end played at UC Davis from 2021-22. He played and started in 28 games at UC Davis, recording 68 receptions, 928 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns.

Castles transferred to UC Davis from California. He played for California from 2018-19.

First-year Tennessee tight ends coach Alec Abeln met with media following the Vols’ second practice on Thursday. He discussed Castles’ development at Tennessee.

“From McCallan’s UC Davis tape you see a playmaker, really athletic,” Abeln said. “You see a guy not afraid to stick his face in it. A guy that’s played in a bunch of different systems and knows football at a base level pretty well. This spring, kind of the same thing with Ethan (Davis), he’s trying to figure it out.

“He’s obviously older, he’s played a lot more, so he came a little bit cleaner form, but now that he knows what he’s doing, being able to really focus on the detail things and play fast.”