Son of Eagles' Castillo set to face Penn State

Greg Castillo loved the opportunities he received to learn about football from his father as he was growing up.

Then again, when your father is an assistant coach with the Eagles, you often must adapt to a workday that begins early and extends well into the night if you want to keep at it.

Castillo made the adjustments, and that's what has helped him become a valued member of an Iowa secondary that will have to deal with both of Penn State's quarterbacks in Saturday's Big Ten game at Beaver Stadium.

Juan Castillo, who is in his first year as the Eagles' defensive coordinator, was the Birds' offensive line coach when his son would accompany him to the NovaCare Complex.

"There was a point in time when I would wake up whenever he woke up," the younger Castillo said this week. "I'd go to the office with him and lift and run and then go to school. I actually went into his office around 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning to get this done.

"It was just awesome. They were top-notch facilities. I even got to watch some film with my dad until the time I had to leave."

After he completed his workouts, Castillo would hop into his car and drive to St. Joseph's Prep. Given his early start, followed by school and football practice, Castillo would return home ready for some sleep.

"I was pretty beat," he said. "But you know what? It's like my dad always stressed: You've got to work hard. If you work hard, good things will happen."

Things worked out nicely for the 5-foot-11, 182-pound Castillo, a fourth-year junior cornerback who started the first two games of the season and now plays in Iowa's nickel and dime packages along with special teams.

"I always wanted to play football because he was such a huge influence to me," he said of his father. "I saw what he did, and I wanted to follow the same path."

Castillo, a 2007 Inquirer all-Southeastern Pennsylvania first-team selection at corner, received only a couple of offers from lower-level Division I-A schools. He gave Villanova an oral commitment and was ready to sign with the Wildcats until Iowa offered a scholarship right before national signing day.

Castillo called the tender from Iowa "a total surprise" and jumped at the chance to play in the Big Ten.

"I had been out there before in the summer [for football camp], and I loved the family atmosphere, so I decided to come here," he said.

After redshirting his first year, Castillo started the 2009 opener against Northern Iowa, an event he called "literally overwhelming." He was hampered for much of the rest of the season by injuries.

This season, he has been in on 13 tackles for the Hawkeyes (3-1), who started 1-1 but seemed to turn things around by rallying from a 17-point, fourth-quarter deficit and defeating Pittsburgh.

Castillo is looking forward to coming east for the game. He said his mother and grandfather will be among family and friends in the crowd.

"It'd be nice to be close to home at least," he said. "It's nice to be playing against some guys that I know. I've got a couple of buddies at Penn State, so hopefully I'll see them after the game."

Castillo's father will be in Buffalo trying to help the Eagles defense reverse its fortunes. Greg Castillo doesn't get much of a chance in Iowa to watch his father's team, but he can hear the naysayers.

"I try to call some of my friends back home," he said, "but some of them have no idea what they're talking about, so . . ."

His father, he said, remains upbeat.

"He's optimistic," he said. "There are correctable mistakes that they can fix. They can improve."