No. 40 | |||||
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Position: | Linebacker | ||||
Personal information | |||||
Born: | San Jose, California | March 26, 1986||||
Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||
Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||
Career information | |||||
High school: | San Jose (CA) Valley Christian | ||||
College: | San Jose State | ||||
Undrafted: | 2008 | ||||
Career history | |||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||
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Career AFL statistics | |||||
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Player stats at ArenaFan.com |
Matthew Alexander Castelo (born March 26, 1986) is a former professional gridiron football linebacker. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football for the San Jose State Spartans.
Castelo was also a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Born in San Jose, California to a Filipino American family, Castelo attended Valley Christian High School in San Jose, where he earned All-Central Coast Section honors twice. As a senior, he had 128 tackles, 10 sacks and was named league’s "Linebacker of the Year". [1] [2]
Castelo started with the San Jose State Spartans in 2004. In his first game against Washington, Castelo had an interception. In 2005, Castelo finished the season with 91 tackles. [1]
In 2006, Castelo was ranked number-two nationally with 165 total tackles. [3] He earned second-team all-WAC honors, and was the WAC Defensive Player of the Week. In the 2006 New Mexico Bowl, Castelo had 18 tackles and 2 forced fumbles and was named the defensive Most Valuable Player. [1] He was named to ESPN.com's all-Bowl team. [4]
In 2007, Castelo returned as the nation’s top returning tackler in terms of career average with a 9.42 per game. [3] Castelo had 141 tackles in his senior season. [5] He was named to the all-WAC first-team with teammate Dwight Lowery. [6] Castelo completed his career at San Jose State with 433 (203 solo) tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 3 interceptions in 43 games. [5]
He was considered a prospect for the 2008 NFL draft, but after going undrafted, signed with the Seattle Seahawks. Castelo was released from the Seahawks August 12, 2008.
Castelo signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on May 21, 2009. [7] He was released on June 25, 2009. [8]
On April 21, 2011, Castelo signed with the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League. [9] Castelo made his professional football debut on April 23 against the Philadelphia Soul and had 3 tackles and a sack in what would be his only game for the team. [10] [11]
Castelo completed his Bachelor of Science degree in business management at the San Jose State Lucas College of Business in August 2010. [12] He is now a real estate investor "who focuses primarily on older and distressed properties." [13]
Jeffery Wade Ulbrich is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Hawaii and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round in the 2000 NFL draft and played for the 49ers from 2000 to 2009.
Rashied Khalid Davis is a former American football wide receiver. He was originally signed by the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League (AFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football at San Jose State. He also played for the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions.
Dwight Larte Lowery is a former American football safety. He was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL draft. He played college football at San Jose State.
Cedric Darryl Pollard is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). His listed highlights are the Super Bowl XXIII and XXIV championships, and playing on an undefeated Colorado State High School Championship team in 1981.
Omarr Ali Hasan Smith is a former American football defensive back who was most recently the head coach of the Baltimore Brigade of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played professionally for the San Jose SaberCats of the AFL, and played college football at San Jose State.
Marquis Floyd is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Tennessee Valley Vipers, Rio Grande Valley Dorados, San Jose SaberCats and Arizona Rattlers in the Arena Football League (AFL). He was signed by the Tennessee Valley Vipers as a street free agent in 2004. He played college football at West Georgia.
The San Jose State Spartans football team represents San José State University in NCAA Division I FBS college football as a member of the Mountain West Conference. Since its first regular season in 1898, the team has produced over 90 All-America team members, won 18 conference championships, and sent 139 players to the NFL, including Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Bill Walsh and Dick Vermeil. The Spartans head coach is Ken Niumatalolo.
Eric Norwood is a former American football defensive end. He was most recently a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL from 2013 to 2015. He formerly played for the University of South Carolina. During his collegiate career, he set school career records in tackles for loss (54.5) and quarterback sacks (29). With numerous conference and national honors, Norwood is one of the most decorated defensive players in SEC history and has drawn comparisons to James Harrison. Norwood was considered a top linebacker prospect for the 2010 NFL draft; he was selected in the fourth round, 124 overall by the Carolina Panthers.
Clevan Nathaniel Thomas is a former American football cornerback. Along with Kenny McEntyre, he is regarded as one of the top defensive backs in Arena Football history. He spent ten of his seasons in the AFL with the SaberCats; over this span, he won four ArenaBowl championships and three Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) awards. In 2012, Thomas was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame.
Gabriel Nyenhuis is a former professional gridiron football defensive lineman. His nickname at the San Jose SaberCats according to some fans is Hunger Games, as he is seen reading the books during practice. He was named AFL Defensive Player of the Year as well as Lineman of the Year in 2010. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks in 2004. He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes.
D'Anthony Smith is a former American football nose tackle and Super Bowl XLVIII champion with the Seattle Seahawks. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football at Louisiana Tech University after receiving a Division I athletic scholarship.
Justin Mitchell Alexander Cole is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at San Jose State, where in 49 games he recovered five fumbles and forced another four.
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Mic'hael Goubron Brooks is an American former professional football defensive tackle. He played college football at East Carolina University and attended Bartlett Yancey High School in Yanceyville, North Carolina. He was a member of the Seattle Seahawks team that won Super Bowl XLVIII. Brooks was also a member of the Detroit Lions, BC Lions, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Eskimos.
Keala Keanaaina is a former American football fullback who played two seasons with the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League (AFL). He first enrolled at San Jose State University before transferring to the College of San Mateo and lastly the University of California, Berkeley. He attended Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo, California. Keanaaina was also a member of the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL).
Damien Borel is a former American football defensive lineman. He attended Woodland High School and Butte College. In 2012, while at Butte, he tallied 69 tackles and 19 sacks. Borel's 19 sacks led all California Community College Athletic Association players in 2012.
Cedric Walker is a former American football defensive back and coach who is currently the head coach and defensive coordinator of the Billings Outlaws of the Arena Football League (AFL). Walker played football at Stephen F. Austin University; once his stint there concluded, he signed with the AFL's Charlotte Rage. Walker played for a succession of AFL teams over his ten-season career; these included the Orlando Predators, Arizona Rattlers, Indiana Firebirds, Chicago Rush, Austin Wranglers, and Las Vegas Gladiators. At the end of his AFL Career, Walker had amassed some 522 solo tackles ; this was the league's seventh-highest total. Walker also won one ArenaBowl as a player; this came with the Arizona Rattlers in 1997.
Jeff Jarnigan is an assistant general manager and coach for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL).
George Roger Williams III is a former American football defensive lineman who last played for the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League. Williams spent a total of seven seasons with the SaberCats; prior to this, he spent three years in the NFL.
Castelo has a strong following among fellow Filipinos. His teammates also have embraced his culture.