GAINESVILLE — The 10th in a position-by-position preview of the UF football team leading up to SEC Media Days.
TODAY: SAFETIES & STARS
What to expect
Jordan Castell and Bryce Thornton were true freshmen, outflanked and flailing, when former LSU star Jayden Daniels set an SEC record with 606 total yards and the Tigers gained 701 yards — the most ever gained against the Gators — during a 52-35 loss in 2023. Through the growing pains and low points, the safety duo and leaders of the defense’s back end have continued to grow and develop — the Gators hope into a force in 2025 with first-year coach Vinnie Sunseri now at the helm.
The experience and potential are there. After all, Castell hasn’t missed a start since Week 2 of his first season while recording 115 tackles and 12 pass breakups, including a team-leading 9 last season. A former standout cornerback at West Orange High, the 6-foot-2, 217-pound Castell has built his body and improved his communication. An 11-tackle day during UF’s upset of LSU last November showed how far he had come.
A week later, Thornton had 14 stops and made two interceptions during the final 1:31 as the Gators stunned Ole Miss. The powerfully built 5-foot-10, 212-pound Georgian came on late in the season, recording 26 stops during the final three regular season games to finish with 41 in 2024.
Like the Gators starting tandem, 4-star prospects Hylton “Drake” Stubbs and Lagonza Hayward hope to get their share of experience as first-year freshmen. Stubbs staked his claim during the spring game, with 8 tackles, an interception and a quarterback hurry. The 6-foot-1, 197-pound freshman arrived with vast experience, having played 45 combined games at Jacksonville Mandarin and Orange Park. Along the way, he tallied 286 tackles (22.5 for loss), 12 interceptions and 11 pass…
Source link : https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/11/florida-gators-football-jordan-castell-bryce-thornton-aaron-gates-sharif-denson-vinnie-sunseri-drake-stubbs/
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Publish date : 2025-07-11 11:00:00
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