Jordan Castell has quickly become one of Kentucky’s most important defenders, but apparently he’s also the Wildcats’ top threat at the bowling alley.
The Florida transfer has been everywhere for Jay Bateman’s defense through three games, piling up 29 tackles, two pass deflections and two interceptions. He delivered his biggest moment yet in Kentucky’s 31-21 upset of No. 9 Texas A&M, finishing with a career-high 13 tackles and the game-sealing interception.
But when Castell joined “The Paul Finebaum Show” on Tuesday, football wasn’t the only thing on the table. Castell said bowling is how he’s spent time with his teammates this offseason, and he didn’t shy away from claiming the crown.
“I feel like, well not feel like… I know I’m the best on the team at bowling,” Castell said. “Especially here.
It’s something me and my guys up here do. We bowl, go out there talk, and socialize.
That’s really how I get to know my teammates. Just going on a weekend and bowling with my friends… I gotta beat them of course.
“There’s always a lot of people at the bowling alley, but it’s always some space for us. We’ll even try to join somebody’s lane and beat them.
It’s real competitive. If you’re going out there with me, we’re trying to win.”
Finebaum then pressed him on the other end of the roster. After some hesitation, Castell pointed to junior linebacker Antwan Smith as Kentucky’s weakest bowler.
“Well, I don’t want to throw anybody under the bus… but I’ve got to go with Antwan Smith,” Castell said with a laugh. He is terrible.
He is terrible. He’s terrible.
Antwan pays for my lunch every weekend.”
Kentucky’s win at Texas A&M gave the program its third top-10 road victory in the past four seasons, and the Wildcats are now 2-1 heading into Saturday’s home game against South Alabama. Head coach Will Stein said Monday the staff plans to keep the pressure on after the breakthrough.
“I think now’s our opportunity to coach these guys even harder and double down on our process,” Stein said on Monday. “There’s a reason why we were successful last game: we practiced really well.
“Everybody’s bought in and so they understand the messaging, they understand that we have a really good team coming in here this Saturday and it’s an opportunity to go play. It’s 0-0 again.
You can’t go back. We gotta go play well.
I got the rat poison up right now. A lot of rat poison.
It’s a classic coaching term. Don’t eat the cheese.”
In Other News...
Kentuckys Kicker Battle Isnt Over After Adam Zouaguis Big Moment
Adam Zouagui has handled the kicking job since Jacob Kauwe went down with an injury in fall camp, and the early returns have been encouraging for Kentucky. Through the first three games, Zouagui has made 3 of 4 field goal tries, capped by a career-long 52-yarder against Texas A&M, a kick that showed both leg strength and the kind of poise the Wildcats needed in a close-range, high-pressure role.
Still, the job is not locked up. Kentucky coach Will Stein said Zouagui and Kauwe are still competing for the kicker spot in practice, and he has praised both players for how they have handled the situation. For a team that knows how quickly special teams can swing a game, the battle adds another layer of intrigue as the Wildcats sort out one of the most pressure-packed positions on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys New-Look Roster Just Got A Big National Endorsement
Kentuckys reshaped roster is already drawing national attention, and CBS Sports added another layer of validation this week when Isaac Trotter broke down the sports top players by position. The Wildcats showed up across the board in his lineup of impact talent, with Zoom Diallo pegged as the initiator at point guard, Alex Wilkins slotted as a combo guard, Milan Momcilovic labeled the top off-ball wing and Malachi Moreno listed as a true center.
For a team trying to build around a new mix of skill sets, that kind of spread says plenty about the options on hand. Diallo is expected to organize the offense, Wilkins gives Kentucky another backcourt piece with versatility, Momcilovic adds a wing threat, and Moreno anchors the middle as a classic five. There is still a lot to learn about how it all fits together once the season starts, but the early read from one national observer is clear: this roster has real positional depth and more than one player capable of shaping the Wildcats ceiling. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Texas A&M Win Felt Even Bigger Behind The Scenes
A road win in the SEC usually looks better when you see what went into it, and Kentuckys 31-21 victory at Texas A&M had plenty of extra context tucked into the Wildcats new unKut video series. The behind-the-scenes footage gives a closer look at the coaches, coordinators and even the broadcast call, while also showing how the games momentum swung during a 28-point unanswered run that turned the night in Kentuckys favor.
Will Steins role in the win comes through clearly in the new footage, with the head coach providing the kind of sideline presence that helps explain why the Wildcats stayed composed away from home. The series captures more than just the final score, offering a fuller look at how Kentucky managed the emotional and tactical side of one of its more meaningful conference road wins. [Read more 🡒]