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The dominoes of decisions for some of Iowa’s defensive players have started to fall with the choice by linebacker Jay Higgins this week to come back next season.
Defensive back Cooper DeJean hasn’t decided, even though he is one of the highly-regarded prospects who could enter the NFL draft.
Safety Sebastian Castro has an interesting choice in his own right after a season in which he recorded a career-high 61 tackles and a team-high three interceptions.
Either choice, Castro said last week, is OK.
“I’ve been back and forth on what I want to do,” Castro said. “I’ve wanted to play in the NFL since I was a little kid, and I have the opportunity. But to come back another year and improve my game, that’s not a bad deal, either.”
Castro’s resumé got a big bump this season. He was a third-team All-American by the Associated Press after a year in which he nearly doubled his tackle output from last season. He also had eight pass breakups and eight tackles for loss, a ball-hawking presence on one of the nation’s top defenses.
“I think it comes from within,” defensive coordinator Phil Parker said of Castro’s ability. “When we watched him in high school, he was a guy who was very active. Once he sees where the ball is going, he knows how to get there. He sees the angles.
“It’s hard to do that every day. But he’s one of those guys who has it in him. He loves the game of football. It’s a simple game — tackle the guy with the ball. He sees where the ball is, and that’s where he goes.”
“I’ve always been a high-motor guy,” Castro said. “When you mix it in with the film (study), now I have a direction instead of going all over the place.”
How that translates to an NFL career is something Castro isn’t sure of yet — as of last week, he said, he hadn’t gotten back the NFL draft analysis that players can receive.
It’s why he may opt to come back, to have a chance at raising his draft stock.
“It’s not a bad deal to come back, put more on tape,” Castro said.
It was at this point last season when Castro had started to emerge as one of the Hawkeyes’ better defenders. He matched his career high with five tackles in the 21-0 win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl, when he also had a sack and two pass breakups.
Castro started 12 games this season, and had no intention of passing up playing in next Monday’s Citrus Bowl against Tennessee.
“Down in Florida, good weather, against a good opponent,” Castro said, mentioning the reasons why he wanted to play. “It’s just another opportunity.
“I feel if you really love the game, why would you opt out? It doesn’t help you at the end of the day.”
Castro, who said this week he expects to decide soon after the bowl game, has until mid-January to make his decision, so for now, he is enjoying the process.
“I’ve always had it in my thoughts, I believe in myself that I could get in this position,” Castro said of going to the NFL. “Now there’s so much going on. There’s decisions to make, things to think about.
“It’s all fun, though. I’m blessed to be in the position I’m in. I’m just trying to enjoy it.”
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A Hidden Prospect Could Open Big Trade Doors for the Oilers
With a stacked blue line and limited roster spots, Edmonton could turn one of its top young, somewhat undiscovered, defensemen into a key bargaining chip when the trade deadline approaches. That prospect is Beau Akey, and he’s looking to make a name for himself this season. The Oilers have a luxury most teams can’t claim — a veteran-heavy, Cup-contending blue line. But that depth also potentially blocks the path for Akey, who is one of their most intriguing young defense prospects. Akey is coming off a strong bounce-back season in junior after double shoulder surgery. A full season of good health could do wonders for his reputation as someone who has a bright future. Last year with the OHL’s Barrie Colts, he posted 32 points in 52 games, added five assists in the playoffs, and wore a leadership role. Known for his elite skating and crisp passing, he’s now set to make the leap to pro hockey in Bakersfield (AHL). “I’m 100 percent now,” Akey said during camp. “I’m looking to make the step to professional hockey (this season), so I’m looking to show the Oilers that at training camp. I want to give my all to try and make the Oilers and try to prove to them I can make an NHL roster.” Oilers development staff already love his mobility and offensive instincts, but they want him to sharpen the defensive side of his game. In the meantime, he’s a premium asset waiting in the wings — a 20-year-old right-shot defenseman with top-four potential. The Oilers know he can be a future impact player for them. That means he can also be an impact player for someone else. Edmonton won’t be looking to move the youngster. That said, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if he pops up on radars around the league. Oilers senior director of player development Kalle Larsson said, “A healthy Beau Akey is an elite skater, he can break the puck out well and he has offense.” He added, “I think in pro, he’ll be a two-way defenseman that will need to be more reliable defensively.” Akey Will Be a Trade Piece that Other Teams Look At For a team chasing a Stanley Cup, players like this are gold. They can grow into future cornerstones or become the centerpiece of a trade for immediate help. If Edmonton needs a deadline boost — be it a depth scorer, penalty-kill specialist, or injury insurance — Akey could headline a package that draws serious interest from rebuilding teams or clubs on a timeline where they’ll be contenders in two or three seasons. The Oilers will decide later whether to keep him for the long haul or flip him for a win-now piece. Either way, they’re holding a hidden card that could make all the difference come spring.
Steelers Rookie Kaleb Johnson Gets Very Honest Rating In First Game Against Jacksonville
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Johnson comes to the Steel City after a tremendous career at Iowa, where he routinely faced stacked defensive fronts and still found ways to excel. The Steelers clearly believe he has the physicality, vision, and work ethic to contribute right away, especially in an offense that prides itself on a strong running game. In the Steelers’ first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh came away with a 31-25 victory. Johnson saw limited but notable action, carrying the football eight times for 20 yards and catching one pass for six yards. While his stat line didn’t jump off the page, his debut provided the coaching staff with an initial look at how he adjusts to NFL speed and physicality. Following the game, former Steelers two-time Super Bowl champion Chris Hoke appeared on the KDKA Nightly Sports Call to give his honest assessment of Johnson’s first NFL outing. Hoke noted that while Johnson showed flashes of his college toughness, he still needs to work on reading NFL-level defenses and hitting the hole with more urgency. He emphasized that preseason is about learning and adapting, and that Johnson has the tools to grow into a productive player for Pittsburgh if he embraces the grind. "On the one sack earlier in the game, Mason [Rudolph] wanted to check it down to him and he stayed in to protect," Hoke said Saturday on the KDKA Nightly Sports Call. "There's been a lot of talk about, 'Can Kaleb Johnson protect?' That's a big part of why he needs to be out there getting these reps, because he needs to protect Aaron Rodgers in the regular season. He stayed in there too long, didn't leak out for the safety valve, but Kaleb Johnson broke tackles." Hoke, as a whole, sounded very pleased with what he saw from Johnson. While the stats were not impressive, the eye test revealed Johnson’s burst and vision. Perhaps his best moment came when he planted Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter into the turf. Hoke acknowledged that Johnson still has plenty to work on but expressed confidence that he can get there. "A lot of times when you are a running back and you get to a hole, you are going to have a guy there," Hoke continued. "You've got to make the first guy miss. He stiffed-arm, he got outside, got some positive yardage when a lot of times we saw last year running backs were going down on contact at the first guy. So, I really like what I see from Kaleb Johnson." The Steelers’ running back room looks noticeably different heading into the 2025 season. Like several other key positions on the roster, it underwent a complete overhaul. Pittsburgh will open the year with a one-two punch of Jaylen Warren and Johnson, though many analysts believe Johnson could begin stealing carries from Warren as the season progresses and eventually emerge as the lead back. Steelers Could Have A Punishing Rushing Attack In addition to Warren and Johnson, the Steelers added veteran running back Kenneth Gainwell in the offseason. Fresh off a Super Bowl victory with the Philadelphia Eagles, Gainwell brings playoff experience and versatility to the group. Together, this trio will be the foundation that Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith and Head Coach Mike Tomlin lean on to power the offense. If the Steelers are serious about being legitimate contenders in 2025, their ground game will need to set the tone early and often. With Smith’s physical, run-first philosophy and a backfield that blends youth, experience, and explosiveness, Pittsburgh has the pieces to build one of the most punishing rushing attacks in the league.
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