UF football position preview: Safeties and STARs
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 as 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.
Advertisement
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 breakups.
The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Hayward, a former Tennessee commit, recorded 152 tackles, with 12 for loss, and 9 interceptions, including two pick-sixes, and 17 passes defended during his career at Toombs County High School in Lyons, Ga.
Advertisement
While Castell and Thornton solidify the safety position, the Gators face questions at the STAR position, where a defender lines up in the slot to cover receivers, supports the run and can blitz the quarterback.
Third-year player Sharif Denson started five games there in 2024, finishing with 37 tackles, 5 for loss (2 sacks), and 2 pass breakups. The 5-foot-11, 191-pound former standout at Jacksonville's Bartram Trail underwent offseason foot surgery in the spring, but a 3-tackle effort in the spring game was encouraging.
In 2024, Aaron Gates proved to be a natural for the position in his second season and eventually moved into the starting role past Denson. The former 3-star recruit from Georgia soon evolved into the team's most dynamic playmaker on defense until a season-ending knee injury against Ole Miss.
The 6-foot, 189-pound Gates had 4 tackles with one for loss, an interception, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry during a loss to Georgia. He finished last season with 27 stops, 3 pass breakups and 2 fumble recoveries, but is highly unlikely to be ready for fall camp.
Advertisement
While Gates recovers, redshirt freshman Josiah Davis will have a bigger role. He appeared in four games in 2024, logging one tackle.
What they're saying
'Unbelievable a lot of great guys or we have a lot of great guys, guys that are talented, smart, have a lot of experience, and there's also young guys that are coming in they are green but they're also extremely talented and eager to learn. Everybody is extremely locked in in meetings, they go on the practice field, and they excute as fast as they can. It's not always going to be perfect, but that's what the corrections are for. They are doing everything we ask of them as a staff and I think we've gotten better this spring. We're not where we need to be but we've taken steps in the right direction.' – first-year safeties coach Vinnie Sunseri
Returnees
Jordan Castell
Josiah Davis
Sharif Denson
Aaron Gates
Bryce Thornton
Advertisement
Departures
DJ Douglas
Gregory Smith III
Asa Turner
New arrivals
Lagonza Hayward (Lyons, Ga.), true freshman
Drake Stubbs (Jacksonville), true freshman
Projected depth chart
Strong safety — Jordan Castell | Lagonza Hayward
Free safety — Bryce Thornton | Drake Stubbs
STAR — Sharif Denson | Josiah Davis
Previous
Quarterback
Running back
Tight end
Receiver
Offensive line
Interior defensive line
Edge rusher
Linebacker
Cornerbacks
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Fabian Edwards dismisses PFL finals foe Dalton Rosta: 'A nice kid' who's 'trying to act tough'
PFL middleweight Dalton Rosta looks like the bully in every American coming-of-age movie you've ever seen. You know, the dude who's the captain of the football team. He goes out with the most popular cheerleader in the school. You would eagerly bet all of your early possessions that he had frosted tips and has stuffed a nerd in a locker at one point in his life. 'A jock!' Fabian Edwards interrupts me, halting my labyrinthine quest to pigeonhole his upcoming PFL foe, who he meets Thursday in the main event of the Hollywood, Florida card, which doubles as the $500,000 finals of this year's PFL middleweight tournament. While my stereotype is built solely around Rosta's All-American appearance, Edwards believes his opponent has far more in common with Channing Tatum, who played a lovable former football player in "21 Jump Street," and Zac Efron, who portrayed a basketball star in "High School Musical." Edwards, the younger of the famed Birmingham brothers — older sibling Leon Edwards is a former UFC welterweight champion — has been baffled by his interactions with the American Top Team talent all week. Go and see for yourself — nearly every promotional video follows the same pattern. A glowing Rosta appears on the screen and immediately begins to insult Edwards, who in turn looks very confused by what's taking place. 'I'm just thinking that he's acting, he's always performing, you know?" Edwards tells Uncrowned, days out from the fight. "Every time he opens his mouth, I feel like he's acting. I can't take this guy seriously in those interactions. I really can't. 'He's acting tough, but really he's just a nice American college kid. This is what it looks like when a nice kid is trying to act tough. I know he's putting on a show. It's funny to me.' In a way, Edwards sees the insults and critiques of his abilities as a compliment. As far as he's concerned, Rosta is attempting to make up some ground on him before they meet on Thursday, when no remark or jibe will factor into whose arm is raised in victory for PFL's six-figure prize. 'He obviously thinks he needs to weaken me somewhere," Edwards says. "I don't have to tell you — I come from a very tough area, we grew up on the streets. Someone coming at me with little insults is not going to affect me. On Thursday I get to go in there and put my hands on him. It's all just talk and it will have no impact on the fight when we're locked in the cage.' As the old adage goes: Appearances can be deceiving. It's true in the case of Rosta, an NCAA Division II wrestler who boasts an undefeated amateur boxing pedigree and 11-1 pro MMA record. Like Edwards, his talent was identified by Bellator and he signed to the promotion in 2019. He contested every professional bout of his fledging career under the banner up until this tournament, where he offed Sadibou Sy and avenged his sole career loss to Aaron Jeffrey to book his place in the finals. While Edwards acknowledged Rosta's wrestling ability, he praised little else of his counterpart's skill set. 'He's just a wrestler," Edwards says. "He can box a little bit, but his main thing is to wrestle. He even said it in the face-to-face, he said, 'I'm going to wrestle you for five rounds', and that's it. That's probably his best path to victory, but it's not going to happen, I feel like I'm going to style on this guy. He's a blown-up wrestler. 'I'll be on this guy from the jump. I know I can keep my pace going deep into a fight and I know he can't. He mentioned to me that he's explosive — bro, Dalton is not faster or stronger than me. If he really believes that's true, he's going to be in for a shock. He fights in a way that relies on being explosive, whereas I rely on my skills.' Speaking of movies, the Edwards' brothers story has often been floated as perfect fodder for a Hollywood blockbuster. Even if you shrank it down to Fabian's tournament run, you could at least get a mini-series out of it. Initially told he wouldn't be able to secure a visa to fight in the opening round, he was then thrust into a short-notice fight against two-time light heavyweight tournament champion Impa Kasanganay. After his second-round knockout of Kasanganay, he went on to defeat Josh Silveira to book his ticket to the finals. Now, all that stands in the way of him and $500,000 is Rosta. 'I thought this dream was done, mate,' he says. 'I thought I was finished. When I got the call to say I was out, I went straight down to my mum's shop to cheer myself up with some jerk chicken, and then the day after I was back in. It's been a wild journey, but as soon as I got into this tournament I told everyone that I was going to win it — and now I'm about to do that.' As for what lies beyond the tournament, should he claim victory, Edwards believes it will be the perfect setup for a rematch with new PFL middleweight champion Costello Van Steenis, who edged him out via split decision back in September 2020. 'I don't want to hear this 'Tournament champion' stuff. Once I win this belt it's world champion versus world champion," Edwards says. "I'll have taken out three of the best guys in the division and then I'll be straight onto the Costello rematch. That will be an entertaining fight.'
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bayer Leverkusen keen to sign Jonathan Clauss from Nice
Bayer Leverkusen are keen to sign France international right-back Jonathan Clauss (32) from OGC Nice, according to Foot Mercato. The former Lens and Marseille fullback was reportedly the subject of serious interest from a still-unnamed club, and the latter is actually Erik ten Hag's Werkself. Clauss, who has earned 14 caps and scored twice for Les Bleus, only joined Nice last summer after leaving Olympique de Marseille. Clauss was reunited with Franck Haise, who he played under previously at Racing Club de Lens where the Sang & Or made a second-placed finish in Ligue 1 and qualified for the UEFA Champions League. The Frenchman has entered the final months of his OGC Nice contract. Foot Mercato understands that Clauss is currently reviewing his options. Should he join Bayer Leverkusen, he'd link up with fellow France international defender Loïc Badé. Clauss would also return to Germany, where he broke through with Arminia Bielefeld. GFFN | Bastien Cheval
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
AFC East DEEP DIVE: Drake Maye breakout incoming? Breakouts, win totals & bold picks
Subscribe to Football 301 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Nate Tice & Matt Harmon deep dive into the AFC East, a division full of question marks. Can the Buffalo Bills defense keep up with the offense this season? Who exactly are the Miami Dolphins? Can Drake Maye take the leap this season for the New England Patriots? And what can we expect from the New York Jets this season? Nate and Matt set expectations for the offense & defense, name a potential breakout player and give their win total picks for each team. (5:20) - Bills deep dive (34:05) - Dolphins deep dive (58:00) - Patriots deep dive (1:22:40) - Jets deep dive 🖥️
