Florida football junior defensive back Jordan Castell plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to a report from On3.
Castell earned a starting role in Florida’s secondary early during his freshman year and rarely left the field. He became a steady presence on the back end, valued for his versatility, toughness and football IQ.
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His decision to explore options elsewhere comes during a period of transition for Florida, as the Gators continue reshaping the roster under Jon Sumrall and his new coaching staff.
While Florida now looks to replace a veteran player in the secondary, Castell enters the portal as a defensive back with extensive SEC experience. It’s expected that he’ll be drawing immediate attention from programs looking for production and a veteran in the secondary.
Castell’s career at Florida
Castell joined the Gators as a highly touted four-star recruit in the 2023 class and quickly exceeded expectations, starting 34 consecutive games for the Orange and Blue. Over three seasons, he totaled 168 tackles, 12 pass breakups, three interceptions, one sack and multiple quarterback pressures.
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As a freshman, he earned Freshman All-SEC honors and was named a Freshman All-American after leading the team in tackles. Castell followed that up with two more productive seasons, starting every game in 2024 and 2025 while consistently ranking among Florida’s leaders in tackles and defensive snaps.
Gators in the transfer portal
Castell’s departure adds another notable name to the list of players opting to enter the transfer portal, including quarterback DJ Lagway.
Fans can track all of Florida’s portal departures through the transfer portal tracker, which will be updated throughout the cycle as new decisions are announced.
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Here are the players who intend to enter the transfer portal as of Monday, Dec. 15.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football DB Jordan Castell to enter NCAA transfer portal
