David DeCastro

David DeCastro

refer to caption DeCastro in the 2015 NFL postseason.
No. 66 Pittsburgh Steelers
Position:	Guard
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1990-01-11) January 11, 1990
Place of birth:	Kirkland, Washington
Height:
Weight:
Career information
High school:	Bellevue (WA)
College:	Stanford
NFL draft:	2012 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24
Career history
Pittsburgh Steelers (2012–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (2015) First-team All-Pro (2015) Unanimous All-American (2011) 2× First-team All-Pac-12 (2010, 2011)
Career NFL statistics as of 2015
Games played: 51 Games started: 50 Player 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.

Early years

DeCastro was born in Kirkland, Washington. Of South African descent, 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.

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. He also competed in the discus (top-throw of 37.24 meters).

Considered a three-star prospect by Rivals.com he was listed as the No. 11 center in the class of 2008. 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. As a sophomore in 2010 he started all 13 games and was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection. 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. Under head coach David Shaw, the Cardinal finished 11-2 DeCastro's final season. Afterward he decided to forgo his final season of college eligibility and enter the NFL Draft.

Professional career

Pre-NFL Draft

In October 2011, Sports Illustrated′s Tony Pauline ranked him as the No. 17 prospect on his midseason draft board. 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. In a decent performance at the NFL Combine, DeCastro impressed scouts with "excellent movement skills." Still considered the top guard prospect available in the draft, he drew comparisons to Steve Hutchinson.

Pre-draft measurables

Ht	Wt	Arm length	Hand size	40-yd dash	10-yd split	20-yd split	20-ss	3-cone	Vert	Broad	BP
6 ft 4⅝ in	316 lb	32⅜ in	10 in	5.43 s			4.56 s	7.30 s	29.5 in	8 ft 2 in	34 reps
All values from NFL Combine

2012 NFL Draft

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.

Pittsburgh Steelers

2012

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. On November 26, DeCastro was activated to the active roster, while Gilbert was placed on injured reserve. On December 9, 2012, DeCastro played in his first career game in a 24-34 loss at the San Diego Chargers. The next week, he earned his first career start during a Week 15 contest against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished his rookie year starting the last 3 games of the 2012 NFL season.

2013

The following season, he started the season opener against the Tennessee Titans as the Steelers' right guard. DeCastro missed his first game of the 2013 NFL season, during a Week 9 loss to New England. He finished the season starting 15 games as the Steelers finished 8-8 for the second year in a row.

2014

DeCastro returned in 2014 to complete his first full season after starting all 16 games of the regular season as the Steelers finished 11-5. On January 3, 2014, he played in his first career postseason game against the Baltimore Ravens.

2015

In his fourth season with the Steelers, DeCastro started in all regular season games and was elected to his first Pro Bowl.

External links

• Pittsburgh Steelers bio
• Stanford Cardinal bio at the Wayback Machine (archived June 14, 2012)