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Florida Football: Five things that have gone right during the first month

By Benjamin Henderson

Sep 9, 2023; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong walks the sidelines during the first half against the McNeese State Cowboys at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2023; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong walks the sidelines during the first half against the McNeese State Cowboys at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Florida safety Jordan Castell (14) celebrates after making a play during a football game between Tennessee and Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. /

Florida Football Things Have Gone Right: Jordan Castell

When we wrote about Jordan Castell prior to the start of the season, we said that:

"Currently listed at 6’2″ and 204 pounds, the safety out of Orlando was noted for his willingness to be physical with opposing wide receivers or even smaller tight ends. He moves well for someone of his size, and on film, he had solid instincts on how to find the ball, whether he was playing safety or shifted out wide to play corner. When given the chance, he will truck someone and make them wish they hadn’t gotten in his way."

But it is one thing to be a physical safety in high school and another to understand the nuances required to play the position in college.

Trey Dean, for example, was as physical of a safety as there was in college football, but his constant lack of attention to detail resulted in far too many coverage busts for Florida to win.

Castell has come in and been rock solid for the Gators on the back end of the defense. He has taken more snaps than anyone on the defensive side of the ball, and PFF rates him as Florida’s second-best defender among guys who, to this point, have taken at least 80 snaps.

He is also graded out as the top true freshman safety in the country among guys who have taken at least 100 snaps.

Part of the saga surrounding Kamari Wilson is because Castell came in and beat him out for the job.

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