CAREER

One of the most coveted tight end graduate transfers who made his way to Tennessee in December 2022 … Participated in Orange Bowl practices and attended that game before enrolling in post-graduate classes at UT in January 2023 … A physical blocker who also has the ability to stretch the field … Considered a prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft with his overall athleticism … The 2023 season is his sixth and final year of collegiate eligibility after spending three seasons at UC Davis (2021-22) and two seasons at California (2018-19) … Will form a 1-2 punch for the Vols at the position along with Jacob Warren, replacing the versatile Princeton Fant … Signed with California as one of the top tight end recruits in the country as a member of the Class of 2018 … Played and started in 28 games at UC Davis, recording 68 catches for 928 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 13.4 yards per catch … Appeared in four contests at Cal and recorded one catch.

2022 – RS-JUNIOR SEASON (UC DAVIS)

Tabbed a second team All-Big Sky performer in 2022 after logging 30 receptions for 347 yards and a pair of touchdowns … Started all 11 games at tight end … Caught a season-best five passes for 51 yards at Northern Colorado (10/22) … Touchdown receptions on the year came at South Dakota State (9/10) and Montana State (10/1).

2021 – RS-SOPHOMORE SEASON (UC DAVIS)

A second-team All-Big Sky honoree and a Hero Sports All-American Sophomore Team … Started all 12 games at tight end … Hauled in 27 passes and was the second-leading receiver with 363 yards … Averaged 14.52 yards per catch with four touchdowns … Made the most of his catches as two of his three receptions went for touchdowns, recording a season-high 86 yards in the victory over San Diego (9/11) ... Caught touchdowns in the season-opening road victory at Tulsa (9/2) and added a 30-yard score against Idaho (10/2) ... Posted a season-high six grabs and added 65 yards receiving against Cal Poly (10/23).

2021 – SPRING COVID SEASON (UC DAVIS)

Selected as a Hero Sports Sophomore All-American at tight end while starting all five games during the 2021 spring season moved due to COVID-19 ... An All-Big Sky Conference selection who won the team’s Jim Ferrier Award as outstanding transfer ... Tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (3) while ranking second among Aggies in receptions (12) and receiving yards (194) ... Caught four passes each vs. Idaho (3/6) and Cal Poly (3/20) ... First Aggie TD put team on the board with 1:25 left in first quarter at Weber State (3/13) … Longest reception was 44-yard TD to cap opening drive of second half vs. Eastern Washington (4/3).

2019 – RS-FRESHMAN (CAL)

Appeared in the 2019 season-opener vs. UC Davis but did not record any statistics and elected to transfer.

2018 – FRESHMAN (CAL)

Played in three games in 2018 and earned a redshirt as a true freshman … Recorded a 15-yard catch against TCU in the Cheez-It Bowl (12/26) ... Earned Scout Team Player of the Week for the game against North Carolina.

HIGH SCHOOL

Member of the Class of 2018 who was one of the top 15 tight end prospects in the nation according to 247Sports.com … Considered one of the top 50 overall players in the state of California for 2018 … A four-star prospect by 247Sports.com and ESPN and a three-star prospect by Rivals.com … Attended Berthoud HS (Colorado) from 2014-16 and South Tahoe HS from 2016-18 ... Captured first-team NIAA Class 3A All-Northern Nevada plus second-team All-State for STHS ... Previously garnered All-Tri Valley Conference first-team distinction for Berthoud ... Totaled 102 catches for 2,027 yards and 27 touchdowns in final two seasons at South Tahoe ... Added 34 tackles, including seven tackles for loss, three sacks and three interceptions for the Vikings in that span ... Also lettered four years in basketball, two in track & field, one in baseball across prep career.

PERSONAL

Full name is McCallan Verona Castles … Born on Dec. 3, 1999 … Father, Thomas, ran track & field at UC Riverside while his mother, Alison, played basketball at Idaho State … Working toward a master’s degree at UT in agricultural leadership, education and communication ... Earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from UC Davis’ College of Letters and Science in December 2022 … Twitter handle is @McCallanCastles … Instagram handle is @m_castles

McCallan Castles