Jake Casteel helped lead Salpointe Catholic to a state title win at Arizona Stadium in 2013. He’ll play in the stadium again Saturday.
As Arizona Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez watched film of Northern Arizona this week, one player in particular caught his eye.
He had two tackles and the first sack of his career last week against New Mexico Highlands. He was smart and physical.
“Linebacker No. 41,” he said. “I noticed him right away.”
Lumberjacks redshirt freshman Jake Casteel is a Salpointe Catholic graduate and the son of Jeff Casteel, Arizona’s defensive coordinator. Jake has been a part of Rodriguez’s program for the last 15 years, attending practices and games and hanging around the office.
“I’ve known him since he was wee little,” Rodriguez said.
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Jake grew up around Rodriguez and his coaching staff, many of which have stuck together for most of Casteel’s life. He remembers when he was 4 years old and the Casteel family moved to Morgantown, West Virginia. Jake’s dad had a new job on Rodriguez’s West Virginia staff.
“Most of the guys on the staff have watched me grow up from when I was little, so that’s been my second family,” he said. “I’ve always been hanging around out there.”
Saturday night, Jake and NAU (2-0)will run out of the opposing team’s tunnel hoping to upset the 20th-ranked Wildcats. The 5-foot-11-inch, 200-pounder has played primarily on special teams this season, but is starting to see more time at backup linebacker.
This season, he has three total tackles.
Saturday, he’ll try to make his first tackle at Arizona Stadium since 2013, when Salpointe Catholic — a team that included Casteel and UA cornerback Cam Denson — won the state title against Scottsdale Chaparral. In that game, Casteel had 11 tackles and two sacks. He calls it one of the best memories of his life.
His first game against Arizona, and his father, should rank right up there with it.
“We were talking about it, and we’ll be able to talk about this for the rest of our lives,” Jake said. “It’s a really cool opportunity to be able to play against him, but yeah, it’s a little weird and different, but I’m looking forward to it.”
His father is, too.
“Obviously it’s going to be different, but I’m going be proud of it to watch him on the other sideline,” Jeff said before the season. “It’s going to be unique.”
Rose Casteel, Jeff’s wife and Jake’s mom, will be stuck in the middle for Saturday’s game.
Jeff and Jake say she’ll be rooting for NAU. Rodriguez has other ideas.
“I hope she’s rooting for Jeff,” Rodriguez said, smiling, “because he pays the mortgage.”
The Casteel household will get back to normal starting Sunday. Jeff and Jake will resume their regular phone calls, and move on to different opponents.
“This week,” Jake said, “it’s a little different.”
