3 Florida Gators Defensive Players to Watch vs. Texas A&M

The Florida Gators aren't short of defensive weapons, meaning the Texas A&M Aggies will be tested on the road as they look for their first SEC victory of the season.

Sep 16, 2023; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators safety Jordan Castell (14) celebrates during the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. / Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports

While the Texas A&M Aggies are busy keeping track of the Florida Gators' offensive weapons during Week 3, they'll need to ensure they're finding a groove of their own.

With Conner Weigman behind center, the Aggies will have a chance to do so, but it won't be an easy task, especially at the Swamp. Weigman and his receivers will be tested in their first road game of the season, and mainly by a few key names on the Gators' defense.

These are three of them.

Florida safety Jordan Castell (14) celebrates after making a play during a football game between Tennessee and Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. / Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA

Jordan Castell, Free Safety

After an impressive freshman season, Castell was primed to make a bigger impact for the Gators in the secondary, and he has. Through two games, the safety has tallied a team-best nine tackles, one for a loss, and nabbed one interception, making him the only Gator with a passing takeaway. If Weigman and the Aggies aren't careful with their throwing, they could very well be watching him add his second of the season.

Tyreak Sapp, Defensive Lineman

After upping his numbers from Year 1 to Year 2, Sapp entered his third season with the Gators with the same goal in mind. Through his first two games, he's already reached a third of the total tackles he had last season and matched his number of sacks. Rushing from the edge, the Aggies will need to lock down whichever side he's on, lest they risk giving up a backfield takedown and killing their own momentum.

Derek Wingo, Middle Linebacker

Wingo is now in his fifth season for the Gators and during the four seasons prior, he showed perhaps the most consistency of any player on their defense. Through the first two contests of the season, that hasn't been true, but Wingo is still expected to have a large role throughout the season. If he needs a breakout game to get going, the Aggies will hope it won't be against them, meaning they'll certainly be watching for him on the blitz.