After struggling in multiple departments even before the arrival of Billy Napier in 2022, the Gators vowed to get the secondary back on track in 2024. After safeties Asa Turner and DJ Douglas struggled to start the season, it was time for sophomores Jordan Castell and Bryce Thornton to lead the way for the rest of the season.
Now in their third year at Florida, it will be up to Thornton and Castell to pave the way for a new duo of young talent. True freshmen defensive backs Drake Stubbs and Lagonza Hayward have clearly left strong impressions in fall camp and look to play a big role for the Gators in the future.
“Me and Jordan came in together. Didn’t really know him when we first got here, but both as freshmen trying to play in the SEC, we got real close. Used to hang out all day. Always used to go through the playbook. That’s really a big thing with me and Jordan, and you see how it is today,” Thornton said on his relationship with Castell.
If there is any player on Florida’s roster that can help you be successful as a true freshman, it’s Jordan Castell. As a true freshman, Castell started in 11 of the 12 games he appeared in and posted a PFF defensive grade of 75.6 across a team-high 660 snaps. This ranked fifth among FBS true freshmen at the safety position.
After a season of slight regression as a sophomore, Castell is ready to take the next step and get back on track in 2025.
“It’s a standard to our room. I feel like last year I ain’t make enough plays. I left a lot of plays out there,” Jordan Castell said on improving his technique. “But really just like setting the standard, you know, holding that standard for the young guys, and just, you know, just keep this thing rolling.”
It’s clear to Castell that Stubbs and Hayward love the game of football, which has helped them a lot as true freshmen.
“We in the SEC, you know, the playbook’s crazy, but just guys who play with a lot of energy and, you know, they just have a lot of passion for the game,” Castell said on what stands out about the young duo.
Sitting in meetings and watching film together is what helps pass down the torch. Once you are in the same room and learning as a unit, everything starts to slow down.
“It really just starts in the meeting rooms, just having Drake sit beside me,” Castell said on helping the younger guys come along. “I tell them, like, if you see me write something down, write the same thing.”
Stubbs attended Mandarin High School and was listed as the No. 93 overall prospect and No. 6 safety in the 2025 class.
“He loves football. You can tell, that’s his main goal. He’s always in the building, always working, always trying to find little things, but you can tell he loves the game. The only thing I would say is getting the playbook,” Thornton said. “When he plays fast, he’s a dangerous guy. So just keep getting in the playbook and learn what he’s supposed to do, and he’ll be a great player.”
Thornton was Lagonza Hayward’s player host during an official visit at Florida while Hayward was committed to the Tennessee Volunteers. The bond the two have was formed prior to Hayward becoming a Florida Gator.
“I recruited Lagonza, so I know a little bit about him. It’s great to see him be out there,” Thornton said. “I know a lot about him. So, watching him progress from the spring until now, I love to watch it.”
It wasn’t easy to flip the highly ranked prospect, but the Gators managed to pull it off in the end.
At Toombs County High School in Georgia, Hayward was listed as the No. 170 overall prospect and was the No. 15 safety in the 2025 class.
“Hard,” Thornton said on how hard it was to flip Hayward. “He was committed to Tennessee, so I tried to get him to flip, and he eventually came here. I was his host. I was just telling him all the good things about Florida. I’m just glad he’s here.”
With the Gators returning over 4,500 snaps as a secondary in 2025, the defensive side of the football has no excuses heading into 2025 behind a defensive line that returns Tyreak Sapp, George Gumbs Jr. and Caleb Banks.
“I feel like we have one of the best secondaries, you know, best D-line, just as a whole unit,” Castell said. “You know, we grew up together. We see a lot, you know, since our time being here. We lost, we won. So really just experience playing together, and we have, we have a good connection on the field and off the field.”