Anderson Castle left App State to join Duke. Why his big game is bittersweet
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Anderson Castle transferred to Duke after ASU head coach Shawn Clark was fired.
- Castle joined Duke through a connection with assistant coach Justin Watts.
- Castle filled a special teams and short-yardage role for Duke’s football program.
From all accounts, Duke’s Anderson Castle would have been happy playing his entire college football career at Appalachian State. Castle is a Boone native. He starred at Watauga High. Shawn Clark recruited the running back to ASU and was Castle’s coach, his guy.
But Clark was fired as head coach after last season. Castle, a graduate, decided to look around for another place to play.
“I kind of wanted to see what was out there,” he said.
Duke assistant coach Justin Watts, who had been on Clark’s staff at ASU, reached out. Castle soon was on his way to Durham. It all fell into place.
No one knew how it might work out. Duke coach Manny Diaz said the initial thought was Castle could help on special teams and be a short-yardage and goal-line specialist at 6-feet and 215 pounds. The guy is a load.
And now? Castle has just experienced an emotional, bittersweet week, one mixed with football satisfaction but also deep personal sadness.
Castle rushed for 92 yards and scored three times Saturday against N.C. State, his last touchdown on a startling 66-yard dash off tackle that clinched the Blue Devils’ 45-33 victory. That earned him ACC running back of the week honors.
What Shawn Clark meant to Anderson Castle
Castle learned Sunday night that Clark, who was an assistant coach at UCF, had passed away. Clark, 50, suffered a medical emergency on Sept. 9 and did not recover.
“Anderson took it very hard,” Todd Castle, Anderson’s father, said Tuesday in an interview. “He was really at a loss for words. He and Clark had remained in contact with each other, and Clark congratulated him and communicated with him. They remained close.”
It was Clark who offered Castle a scholarship on his 18th birthday, his father said. He did it after showing up at a Watauga High basketball game, with Castle playing.
“He missed two free throws when Clark walked in the door,” Todd Castle said, chuckling. ”Clark asked Anderson if he had had a good birthday and Anderson said yes. He said, ‘I think I can make it a little better.’”
Todd Castle said Anderson was very close to committing to The Citadel, saying the offer was for him to play quarterback in the Bulldogs’ triple option. A three-star recruit, he led Watauga to a 36-6 record in three years at QB and scored 101 touchdowns, 70 rushing.
“App was a late offer, late to the party,” Todd Castle said. “But it changed everything. And I attribute Anderson being at Duke today because Shawn Clark saw something in Anderson he wanted to pursue.
“Anderson gave him five good seasons and started all the games except eight games he missed with a broken foot (in 2023). Against Clemson last year, we got nailed, but Anderson had 80 yards and a touchdown in the game. That got him attention.”
Castle, a team co-captain in 2024, had seven carries against the Tigers and five went for 10 or more yards. That got the attention of the Duke staff. And the guy who wide receiver Sahmir Hagans calls “Beast” and wideout Cooper Barkate calls “The Fridge” now has gotten the attention of those in the ACC.
Making his mark at Duke
In Duke’s opener, Castle broke off a 63-yard run but was chased down at the Elon 8. That got him a text from his Watauga coach, Ryan Habich.
“He texted to say, ‘In high school you were running a 4.45 and one of the fastest guys on the field. What in the world happened?’” Todd Castle said.
“Anderson’s response was, ‘The best I can tell, coach, that guy was running a 4.3.’”
No one caught Castle on Saturday. On third-and-1 at the Duke 34, he broke off left tackle and was gone. The closest player to him on the 66-yard TD run was Hagans.
“The goal was to get two yards,” Castle said after the ACC game. “I wasn’t expecting to break free like that. But the O-line opened up a huge hole and all I had to do was hit it fast. I was thinking ‘Just hold on to the ball and run.’”
After beating N.C. State in their ACC opener, the Blue Devils (2-2, 1-0 ACC) go to Syracuse this Saturday. Castle, Duke’s top rusher with 193 yards, could be a key part of the game plan and certainly has to be viewed by the Orange as a threat.
“Anderson’s role has really developed into a normal-down back,” Diaz said. “He’s done a great job of catching the ball out of the backfield and done nothing but warrant more and more playing time. And the guys love him.”
Defensive end Wesley Williams said he has not had to try and tackle Castle in any preseason practices or scrimmages and jokingly said he doesn’t want to.
“It doesn’t look like fun,” Williams said. “When he gets those knees going …”
Castle, who was married in January, was strongly pursued in the portal by Washington and Arkansas, his father said. As for Castle, he said college football has been a “crazy journey” that now has him happy at Duke.
“I loved my time at App. I love Boone,” he said. “And coming here has been amazing, as well. It’s been a great change for me. It’s kind of like a fresh start.
“From the day I stepped foot here, it’s felt like home. Everything here has been unbelievable.”
This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 12:01 PM with the headline "Anderson Castle left App State to join Duke. Why his big game is bittersweet."
