Thursday, September 4, 2008

Matt Castelo / Chris Gocong / Eugene Amano; Filipinos in NFL


Castelo #35 Blue. Btw, do you know why there are no male cheerleaders?

NFL season is just a day away so what better way to start this by featuring a Filipino American Football prospect. This is Matt Castelo (of Filipino descent) played as a linebacker for San Jose State University. Here is his career highlights in college:

AT SAN JOSE STATE: In his fourth season with the Spartans...Enters his senior season as the nation’s top returning tackler in terms of career average with a 9.42 per game figure...His 292 career tackles rank third most among active Division I-A players...Listed on 2007 Nagurski Award and Football Writers Association of America All-America watch lists.

2006:
Number-two nationally with 165 total tackles...A second-team All-WAC selection...Twice, the WAC’s ‘Defensive Player of the Week’...Defensive Most Valuable Player of the New Mexico Bowl after his 18-tackle, two forced fumble effort ...Named to ESPN.com’s All-Bowl Team...

2005: Finished second on the team with 91 tackles, including eight tackles for loss...Recorded season-high
13 tackles twice: vs. New Mexico State and at Utah State. Castelo started the season’s final four games... Averaged 6.5 tackles per game in his four starts...

But most importantly to any Filipino family:

Business management major...2004 academic All-WAC selection

Sports Illustrated scouting report on Castelo

Castelo is an intense defender with a special teams mentality who excels in pursuit of the action. Could find a home in a one-gap system where he is free to roam.

He went undrafted but was picked up by Seattle Seahawks. Castelo was sidelined with a knee injury and the team released him (August 11). According to Scout.com, Matt's knee injury prevented him from participating in team's practices - that's the reason why he was cut.

Unlike other College American Football players he has a great academic record to fall back on. Although, I don't discount him making a comeback. Once his injury is healed, he could try out again. I want to see more Filipinos playing in the NFL.


Other Filipinos currently playing in the NFL


Eugene Amano - Tennessee Titans - Center 6'3"" 310 lbs

Chris Gocong - Philadelphia Eagles - OLB 6'2 263 lbs



Roman Gabriel the 1969 NFL MVP and four-time Pro-Bowl player is a Filipino also - more on him later.





Sources:
http://www.sjsuspartans.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM-ID=5600&ATCLID=202647
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2008/draft/players/12448.html
http://www.sportsradio950.com/pages/seahawks_top_stories.html?feed=289737&article=4145581
http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=199&f=1122&t=2797019
http://forum.philboxing.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=107281
http://www.patriotworld.com/TBMedia/collegearticles.htm\

Players data:
http://www.titansonline.com/team/players/bio.php?PRKey=222
http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/player34.html

Images:
Eugene Amano - foxsports.com
Chris Gocong-philadelphiaeagles.com
Roman Gabriel-philadelphiaeagles.com

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