David DeCastro

David DeCastro

DeCastro with the Pittsburgh Steelers playing against the Green Bay Packers
No. 66  Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: Guard
Personal information
Date of birth: January 11, 1990
Place of birth: Kirkland, Washington
Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight: 316 lb (143 kg)
Career information
High school: Bellevue (WA)
College: Stanford
NFL draft: 2012 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
  • Unanimous All-American (2011)
  • First-team All-Pac-12 (2010, 2011)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 7, 2014
Games played: 25
Games started: 24
Stats at NFL.com

David William DeCastro (born January 11, 1990) is an American football guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Stanford University, and earned unanimous All-American honors. The Steelers selected him in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, and was considered one of the best guards prospects available.[1]

Early years

DeCastro was born in Kirkland, Washington. Of South African descent,[2] DeCastro grew up in Bellevue, where he attended Bellevue High School, where he was teammates with Stephen Schilling. He grew up a Seahawks fan, idolizing Steve Hutchinson.[3]

Also a standout athlete, DeCastro competed for the school's track & field team as a shot putter. He got a top-throw of 17.93 meters at the 2008 Washington 3A-4A State T&F Championship, winning the event.[4] He also competed in the discus (top-throw of 37.24 meters).[5]

Considered a three-star prospect by Rivals.com he was listed as the No. 11 center in the class of 2008.[6] He chose Stanford over offers from Washington, Washington State, and Oregon State.

College career

DeCastro attended Stanford University in Stanford, California, where he was a member of the Stanford Cardinal football team from 2008 to 2011. He did not play in any games as a freshman in 2008. As a redshirt freshman in 2009 he started all 13 games at right guard. He was an honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection and a first team freshman All-American by College Football News.[7] As a sophomore in 2010 he started all 13 games and was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection.[8] Following his junior season in 2011, he was again a first-team Pac-12 selection, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American. Afterward he decided to forgo his final season of college eligibility and enter the NFL Draft.

Professional career

2012 NFL Draft

In October 2011, Sports Illustrated′s Tony Pauline ranked him as the No. 17 prospect on his midseason draft board.[9] As the season progressed, he solidified that status as a first-round draft pick, being projected anywhere from No. 11 to No. 24 in pre-combine mock drafts.[10][11][12] In a decent performance at the NFL Combine, DeCastro impressed scouts with "excellent movement skills."[13] Still considered the top guard prospect available in the draft,[14] he drew comparisons to Steve Hutchinson.[15]

Pre-draft measurables
Ht WtArm lengthHand size 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BP
6 ft 4⅝ in 316 lb32⅜ in10 in 5.43 s 4.56 s 7.30 s 29.5 in 8 ft 2 in 34 reps
All values from NFL Combine

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected DeCastro with the 24th pick in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He was the first offensive guard taken in the first round by the Steelers since Kendall Simmons in 2002. In the third preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, DeCastro injured both his right ACL and MCL. After DeCastro was carted off the field, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stated that the injury was a "potentially severe" right knee injury. While engaged with Bills defensive tackle, Marcell Dareus, DeCastro's teammate, offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert, fell on his right leg thus causing the injury.[16] On November 26, DeCastro was activated to the active roster, while Gilbert was placed on injured reserve.[17]

References

External links