Castro finally gets his shot

Playing teams like Washington and Oregon State was something Jeremy Castro always expected he’d do as a four-star recruit from Murrieta, Calif.

Everything else he’s endured since signing with UCLA two years ago has not gone to plan.

Castro’s dreams of playing for the hometown Bruins never materialized, for a variety of reasons. UCLA’s loss is now Hawaii’s gain, and after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, the talented outside linebacker is finally on the verge of stepping onto the field against legit Pac-12 competition when No. 25 Washington comes to town in 11 days at Aloha Stadium.

"It’s been two long years and I’ve been working really hard for this moment to play Washington," Castro said after Monday’s practice. "(These last two years) have been a teachable moment and up and down like you say, but I feel like I’ve been progressing every day."

At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Castro brings a physical presence that suits defensive coordinator Kevin Clune’s 3-4 scheme very well at outside linebacker.

He showed in high school that he can both get after the quarterback and be a physical run stopper, totaling at least 100 tackles and 10 sacks in each of his junior and senior seasons.

His versatility was respected by recruiting services that listed him as both the No. 21 outside linebacker prospect and No. 17 overall among defensive ends.

Playing the boundary or "B" linebacker position at UH, he will have the opportunity to do a little bit of both.

"I’m starting to take out the blocks more and I’ve had to learn to play the run better, but I’m getting the scheme down, learning everything they want me to do and knowing where everybody is fitting in," Castro said.

He’ll still get plenty of opportunities to rush the quarterback, and his ability to make game-changing plays is what Clune hopes to see once the season starts.

"He really brings a little ‘oomph’ to us, whether it’s a pass rush or a hustle play or whatever it is," Clune said. "I enjoy that because he’s got good energy. He has good size for his position and is always hustling."

Castro’s play in camp has put him in line to get the starting nod against the Huskies, but Clune said it’s still wide open all the way up until game day.

"There’s some good competition going on with all of those linebackers right now with TJ (Taimatuia) and Castro pushing each other every day," Clune said. "I expect a lot of production from both of those guys."

After everything Castro has been through, all that matters is that at some point on Aug. 30, he finds himself lined up opposite the Huskies’ offense.

"It is exciting to get my name out there against two of the Pac-12 teams," Castro admitted. "I’m ready to hit some Huskies."