Florida football safety Jordan Castell speaks following Gators spring practice on March 13

GAINESVILLE — The Florida Gators asked a lot of former West Orange High standout Jordan Castell in 2023 and expect even more in 2024.

Forced into the starting lineup as a true freshman playing a new position, he aims to anchor a secondary that spent much of last season on its heels.

The sophomore free safety headlines a host of young defenders looking to make a Year 2 leap after suffering growing pains during a 5-7 season.

“You still just have to believe,” Castell said. “My freshman year you could look at the record and all that, but we had so many freshmen play and we’re all coming back. We’re like, ‘Let’s turn this around.’

“We don’t want to go thru that again.”

Castell has endured worse and overcome more.

This combination of experiences — some soul-crushing and others self-affirming — have prepared the 20-year-old for whatever comes his way.