Interview: 2021 Arkansas Athlete Trent Casto Covers Breakout Season
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Once the ball was kicked off for the 2019 season, few could have guessed during the preseason how big of an impact Trenton “Trent” Casto was going to make for Atkins High School. The standout junior had played the prior two seasons as a full-time corner then made the switch to receiver, and the rest, as they say, was history.
Casto exploded onto the scene during his junior season helping the Red Devils to a 9-3 season with his play at the skill positions. Beginning the year playing receiver for the first time, he rolled through Arkansas secondaries for 772 yards off 44 receptions with nine trips into the end zone. Halfway through the season Casto was needed back at corner. The 5-10, 145-pound, athlete stepped up as needed amassing 21 tackles, 18 solo, with three tackles for a loss, two picks, and forced a fumble.
In addition to his All-Conference play on the gridiron, Casto also plays baseball and basketball for Atkins. Through all the extracurricular sports activities, he’s maintained a 3.25 cumulative GPA with a 20 scored on the ACT.
RNG welcomes Casto into the Lab for the first time learning more about his play on the field.
Interview
Trent, you and Kreed Stubbs make an amazing duo on the field for the Red Devils. How were defenses trying to slow the two of you down last season?
“All they could do to stop us is to put four deep but that got us into our short game. We’d go to that if they tried to stop us deep; that did not help. We could go deep or short, we’d go back and forth.”
What offense were you guys running?
“Spread.”
What were some of the routes you were running?
“We ran a lot of go-routes, posts, speed outs and stuff like that.”
How did your game improve as a receiver in 2019?
“My sophomore year, there were seniors playing above me, but my skills got so much better. As the 2019 season went on, coach gave Kreed and I more freedom. We could give the quarterback a different route if we saw something that would work. It worked out really well.”
In addition to your standout play on offense, you also got after it playing corner. What were some of the coverages you guys were executing last season?
“We ran a lot of Cover 2, mostly Cover 2, but some Cover 4. We did mostly zone coverage last season.”
How did you take your game as a defensive back to the next level?
“My sophomore year, I played defense. My junior year, starting the year off I had laid off defense just playing offense. But midway through the season I started playing corner again. The little things in my game improved like my mechanics and backpedal. The little things that matter in our defense improved. Everyone has a role, I got better at my role.”
All the things you do lean heavily on your speed, what is the fastest timed run you’ve posted?
“My fastest 40 is around a 4.6.”
Which positions will you play during your senior season?
“Receiver and corner and probably punt and kick return.”
This offseason, what have you been working on with your skills?
“I’m trying to work on my routes and speed.”
During this time, what has been your daily workout routine?
“Strength workouts. I am trying to get bigger, that is my No. 1 go-to.”
Looking to the summer, are there any college camps you may attend?
“Yes. I am trying to look at some camps like Arkansas and UCA (Central Arkansas), stuff like that.”
Trent, thanks for your time today and keep up the hard work this spring.
“Thank you.”
Photo credits: J Helms Photography; Trent Casto