University of Iowa Athletics
Sebastian Castro - Football - University of Iowa Athletics

#29 Sebastian Castro

Position DB
Height 5-11
Weight 204 lbs.
Class So.
Hometown Oak Lawn, Ill.
High School Richards

2024 Honors – – Athlon preseason fourth-team All-America and second-team All-Big Ten… Phil Steele preseason second-team All-Big Ten… named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, and Chuck Bednarik Award preseason Watch Lists… one of nine graduate students named to 2024 Player Council… 2024 – – Started at leo-cash position in nine games, marking his 29th career start… has 42 tackles (27 solo, 15assists), three tackles for a loss of six yards, one interception, one pass break-up, one QB pressure, and one forced fumble on the year… recorded a season-high seven tackles (six solo, one assist), including a career-high two tackles for a loss of four yards, and one QB pressure in 17-20 loss at UCLA… recorded six tackles (three solo, three assists), as well as his first tackle for a loss of two yards and his first interception of the season in 7-35 loss at #3/3 Ohio State… collected a career-high five assisted tackles in 40-16 win over Washington… recorded four tackles (two solo, two assists) and first pass break-up of the season in 31-14 win at Minnesota… collected four tackles (three solo, one assist) as defense allowed just 163 yards in 40-14 win over Northwestern… collected three solo tackles and forced one fumble as defense allowed just 189 yards in season-opening 40-0 shutout of Illinois State… collected five tackles (three solo, two assists) in 38-21 win over Troy… recorded five solo tackles in 19-20 loss to Iowa State… recorded three tackles (two solo, one assist) in 42-10 win over Wisconsin.

2023 Honors – – Pro Football Focus first-team All-America… Associated Press third-team All-America… Phil Steele honorable mention All-America… second-team All-Big Ten by league media and honorable mention All-Big Ten by league coaches… Phil Steele second-team All-Big Ten… Associated Press midseason second-team All-America… Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (9/11) following Iowa’s 20-13 win at Iowa State… Team Hustle Award, defense… 2023 – – Started at leo/cash position in 10 games and strong safety three times playing in all 14… led team with eight pass break-ups and three interceptions for 36 yards, which rank fourth and ninth in the Big Ten, respectively… had 67 tackles (47 solo, 20 assists), including eight tackles for a loss of 16 yards on the season… recorded a career-high nine tackles (six solo, three assists) and one pass break-up in 26-0 loss to Michigan… recorded seven solo tackles, including two tackles for a loss of seven yards, a blitz that forced a safety, a game-sealing interception for six yards, and had one pass break-up in 15-6 win at Wisconsin… recorded seven tackles (four solo, three assists), including one tackle for a loss of one yard, and one pass break-up in 12-10 loss vs. Minnesota… collected his first career interception for a touchdown in 20-13 win at Iowa State… also had four tackles (three solo, one assist) and one pass break-up at Iowa State… collected six solo tackles in 35-0 loss to Tennessee… recorded five tackles (three solo, two assists), including two tackles for a loss of three yards in season-opening 24-14 win over Utah State…. had five tackles, four solo, one assist) and snagged his second career interception in 26-16 win vs. Michigan State… collected five tackles (one solo, four assists) and had one pass break-up in 20-14 win over Purdue… had five tackles (three solo, two assists) in 10-7 win at Northwestern… recorded four tackles (three solo, one assist), including two tackles for a loss of three yards and one QB sack for two yards, one forced fumble and one QB pressure in 13-10 win at Nebraska… matched a career-high with two pass break-ups and had three tackles (two solo, one assist) in 15-13 win over Illinois… letterwinner.

2022 Honors – – Next Man In Award, defense… 2022 – – Saw action in all 13 games while starting eight, recording 22 solo tackles and 12 assists … started at outside linebacker in 27-14 loss to #4 Michigan, collecting a career-high five tackles (three solos, two assists), along with one pass break-up… matched career-high with five tackles in 21-0 Music City Bowl win over Kentucky, including four solo tackles and one assist, with one QB sack and career-high two pass break-ups… had four tackles in 24-10 win over Wisconsin, (two solo, two assists), including one tackle for loss and second forced fumble of the season… recorded four tackles in 24-17 loss to Nebraska, including three solos and one assist… had first career start in 27-10 win at Rutgers, recording two solo tackles and two assists… his forced fumble was recovered by teammate and returned for a touchdown and he added one pass break-up… recorded two solo tackles 27-0 win over Nevada, including first career tackle for loss… started at outside linebacker in 24-3 win at Purdue, collecting two tackles at Purdue (one solo, one assist), along with one pass break-up… letterwinner.

2021 – – Saw action in all 14 games, collecting five solo tackles and one assist… collected a season-best three tackles, (two solo, one assist), in 51-14 win at Maryland … first career forced fumble at Maryland led to Iowa recovery on kickoff return and an Iowa touchdown… letterwinner.

 

2020 – – Saw first action of career in 49-7 win over Michigan State.

2019 – – Redshirted… did not seen any game action.

High school honors – – Player of the Year by The Reporter and Daily Southtown as a senior… SSC Red Player of the Year as a junior and senior… earned first-team all-state honors by the Champaign News-Gazette as a junior and senior… first-team all-conference and all-area by the IHSFCA as a junior and senior… first-team all-conference and all-area for three straight years… Career – – Three-year football letterman as defensive back and quarterback… helped team post three-year record of 26-7, while advancing to state playoffs three straight seasons, including state semifinals as a senior… three-year defensive totals include 210 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, four recovered fumbles, 11 interceptions, and seven pass break-ups… on offense completed 121-of-206 pass attempts for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns, while rushing 161 times for 1,145 yards and 14 touchdowns… recorded 95 tackles and five interceptions as a senior, with five tackles for loss, three pass break-ups, three forced fumbles, and two recovered fumbles… on offense passed for 421 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 678 yards and nine touchdowns… 52 tackles as a junior, with two tackles for loss, two pass break-ups, and one caused and recovered fumble… on offense had 1,301 passing yards and 12 touchdowns and 467 rushing yards and five touchdowns… collected 63 tackles as a sophomore, with six interceptions, five tackles for loss, two caused fumbles, two pass break-ups, and two defensive touchdowns… team captain as a junior and senior… also lettered in track.

Personal – – Born 10/14/2000… CLAS non-degree major… mother is Ruby Gonzalez… high school coach was Tony Sheehan.

Castro Named To Thorpe Award Watch List Castro Named To Thorpe Award Watch List
4 Hawkeyes Garner Athlon Preseason All-America Honors 4 Hawkeyes Garner Athlon Preseason All-America Honors
Higgins Named Phil Steele DPOY; 12 Hawkeyes Earn Preseason Honors Higgins Named Phil Steele DPOY; 12 Hawkeyes Earn Preseason Honors
Jay Higgins Named Butkus Award Semifinalist Jay Higgins Named Butkus Award Semifinalist
Stevens Tabbed B1G Special Teams POW Stevens Tabbed B1G Special Teams POW
Higgins, Jackson Named To Lombardi Award Midseason List Higgins, Jackson Named To Lombardi Award Midseason List
Taylor, DeJean Named ESPN Midseason All-America Taylor, DeJean Named ESPN Midseason All-America
Taylor Earns B1G Weekly Honor For Second Straight Week Taylor Earns B1G Weekly Honor For Second Straight Week
Taylor Named B1G Special Teams Player of the Week Taylor Named B1G Special Teams Player of the Week
Former Iowa OC Greg Davis to Receive AFCA Honor Former Iowa OC Greg Davis to Receive AFCA Honor
DeJean, Jackson Earn B1G Weekly Recognition DeJean, Jackson Earn B1G Weekly Recognition
Castro Earns B1G Weekly Honor Castro Earns B1G Weekly Honor
Sebastian Castro SWARM19 Highlight Sebastian Castro SWARM19 Highlight