Positives -- Possesses good size and a big frame, yet has excellent athleticism and moves with great agility... Does an excellent job using his body placement in blocking... Solid initial block in the run game, but separates himself from the rest of the linemen in this class with tremendous drive... Positions himself between the defender and the running lane and drives said defender as far away from it as possible... Extremely impressive run blocker that doesn't give up on the block... Very good at pulling and shows great speed and vision to get to the edge and make a block... Really sets the edge on his pulls and often times makes that one block a back needs to get to the second level... Uses his hands very well when blocking in both the run and passing game... Good pass protector... Gets good extension with his arms to keep a defender at a distance and is very mobile when the pocket moves... Is constantly pushing and driving his defender away from the quarterback... Will be the cornerstone of an NFL offensive line for years to come... Is very much a "sure thing" and there is no doubt that he is physically and fundamentally ready for the NFL... Without question is regarded as the best guard in this draft class and his play on the field does everything to back that up... There have been four interior offensive linemen drafted in the Top 21 in the last three years (Mack, Iupati and the Pouncey twins) but it wouldn't be a surprise if DeCastro goes higher than any of them.
Negatives -- None of his weaknesses are glaring... Hard to find any negatives, if any... Doesn't do a great job when he has a tackle on his inside gap and has to block down, needs to be a little quicker in that regard... Again, overall he is a physically imposing player with tremendous technique and he played in a system that will lead to a favorable transition to the NFL... Some team is going to be very happy with him for a long time. At Stanford -- (Official School Bio) 2011 Outlook: Veteran offensive lineman has made 26 starts over the last two seasons... listed as a second team preseason All-American by Phil Steele Magazine... anchors an offensive line that has allowed just 13 sacks over the last two campaigns and one that has helped pave the way for Stanford's running game to record two of the highest single-season rushing totals in school history... smart, dependable player who will certainly provide leadership to a retooled offensive front line. 2010: First team All-Pac-10 selection... was part of an outstanding offensive line that included first team All-America Chase Beeler, Jonathan Martin and Derek Hall... started all 13 games at the right guard position... blocking skills helped pave the way for a Stanford rushing attack to average 213.8 yards and amass the second-highest rushing total (2,779) in school history... line has also allowed the second-fewest sacks on average (0.46) in the nation... one of five players to earn the Frank Rehm Award for outstanding play in the Big Game against Cal. 2009: Earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 marks after starting all 13 games as a redshirt freshman at right guard... was one of two redshirt freshmen on the offensive line along with Jonathan Martin... excellent run blocker help pave the way for the Cardinal to average 218.2 yards a game on the ground and set the school's single-season rushing mark of 2,837 yards... part of an offensive line that allowed a Pac-10-low 7.0 sacks on the year. 2008: Did not see action. High School & Personal: Graduated from Bellevue (Wash.) High School... ranked as high as No. 3 nationally for centers by Scout.com, while checking in at No. 7 by ESPN.com and No. 11 by Rivals.com... listed as the No. 3 prospect in Washington by SuperPrep as well as the No. 6 overall recruit in the state of Washington by both Scout.com and Rivals.com... SuperPrep also ranked him the No. 21 offensive lineman in the country... selected as the No. 12 player in the Northwest and the No. 247 player in the nation by Scout.com... a SuperPrep All-American and also earned 2007 first team All-American honors from O-D.com... all-state performer who was named the King County Lineman of the Year... played in the Offense-Defense All-American Game following his senior season ... helped lead his club to a prep state title in 2006... also threw the shot put in high school and was the 2008 Washington State 3A champion with a throw of 59-3... also won the district (58-4) and the KingCo 3A League (58-1½), as well... majoring in management, science and engineering.