Florida’s trip to Kentucky in Week 11 comes with a familiar twist, and Jon Sumrall didn’t hide how he feels about it. The Gators are getting ready to see two former players - defensive backs Jordan Castell and Aaron Gates - who have become key pieces for No. 13 Kentucky under first-year head coach Will Stein.
Sumrall said both were players he wanted to keep when he took over at Florida.
"Tried to keep [Castell], tried to keep Gates, both the guys that are on their roster," said Sumrall. "Thought we were keeping Gates, to be quite honest with you. I thought it was like almost done, and then it wasn't."
Castell’s path out of Gainesville came first. He announced plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 15, before the portal opened on Jan. 2 and before Sumrall arrived full-time on Dec. 21 after Tulane’s College Football Playoff loss to Ole Miss. Gates followed 15 days later, though Sumrall said his staff still had a chance to keep him.
"I didn't ever really get enough - being, I accepted this job, I was coaching the playoffs. Castell, I never really had enough quality time by the time I think he made his decision.
I think he was kind of maybe already in a place that he was going, probably," said Sumrall. "...
I never had enough opportunity in front of either one of those guys to sit down in my office and, like, help them with the decision.
"I think Jordan's decision was pretty much made it felt like when I got here. And like I said, I thought Gates was staying.
We were at a place where I thought he was staying, maybe, and then he had a change of heart. Would have loved to have kept both guys.
Those were two guys I wanted to keep. I didn't - there wasn't very many guys I tried to run off, that wasn't the thing when I took the job here.
There was just some guys that felt like the change of scenery was what was best for them."
The move has worked out well for Kentucky. Castell has delivered a career year with four interceptions through nine starts, tying him for the SEC lead and matching Kentucky’s team lead. He has also set career highs with 68 tackles and three tackles for loss.
At Florida, Castell was a three-year starter at safety under Billy Napier. Over 35 games, dating back to his freshman season, he piled up 169 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, three interceptions and 13 passes defended.
"He’s played really good football for them this year. I know he had a great freshman year here.
Not that he didn't have good football after that, but he's looked like he's at his peak this season to me," said Sumrall. "I mean, he's obviously been creating turnovers and playing really high-level football."
Gates has taken a similar step forward. Kentucky’s starting nickel cornerback has seven passes defended, more than doubling his previous Florida total of three, along with 21 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
His Florida career was shortened by multiple season-ending injuries, limiting him to 18 appearances. In that span, he recorded 34 tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception, three passes defended and three fumble recoveries.
"Both of those guys are playing good football," said Sumrall.
Florida enters the matchup at 5-4 overall and 3-4 in the SEC, trying to end a two-game skid. Kentucky is 7-2 and 5-2 in conference play.
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