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LINCOLN — Northwestern State coach Bradley Dale Peveto said a solid recommendation from Bo Pelini was all he needed in accepting former Nebraska I-back Quentin Castille into his program.

Even though Pelini dismissed Castille last weekend for an unspecified violation of team rules.

“He put a stamp on the young man as being a quality kid deserving of a fresh start somewhere,'' Peveto said. “And that was good enough for me.

“I'll say this, I think every kid deserves a second chance, and if not for second chances I wouldn't be where I am today. I've had them through my life.''

Castille on Friday enrolled at Northwestern State and joined practice at the Football Championship Subdivision school in Natchitoches, La. Peveto said the 6-foot-1, 235-pounder likely would be ready to play when the Demons open their season next Saturday at Houston.

Although Castille considered several schools, one of the benefits of transferring down to the former Division I-AA level is that he wouldn't have to sit out a season.

“I kind of wanted to play fast, because I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life right now,'' he said.

Peveto said he talked with Pelini shortly after Castille was dismissed and given his release. Peveto worked with Pelini at Louisiana State from 2005 through 2007 when he was linebackers coach and Pelini was defensive coordinator.

Peveto didn't pry into the matter as much as he listened for Pelini's approval.

“If Bo tells you it's Easter, dye your eggs because it's Easter,'' Peveto said. “All Bo let me know is he broke a team rule and he had to excuse him from the team, but if he was me he would take him at Northwestern State.''

When Castille visited Northwestern State on Tuesday, Peveto said he would listen when Castille was ready to go over what happened at NU.

“After practice on Tuesday he said, ‘I'm ready to talk to you,' and he shared the whole process,'' Peveto said. “And I appreciate that.''

Castille said he would leave the reasons for his dismissal at “violation of team rules.'' The rest is between him and Peveto, who previously knew Castille and his family a little from recruiting the back out of LaPorte, Texas.

“It was totally fine,'' Castille said. “I told him I moved on from past mistakes. I'm a better man because of it.''

As far as guidelines or demands from his new coach, Castille simply said: “I would say I know what he expects from me.''

Castille also visited Memphis and Texas Southern this week and said he talked with Oregon, South Florida and Purdue.

Late in the week, he got a chance to speak with Husker I-back Roy Helu and some other former teammates about picking Northwestern State and the chance to still play in 2009.

“I just said it's best for me,'' Castille said. “They said they were looking forward to seeing me on the field, and I'm looking forward to watching them win a Big 12 championship.''

Castille rushed for 810 yards and 10 touchdowns in two seasons as a Husker. In his last game, with Helu and Marlon Lucky not at 100 percent, he carried 18 times for 125 yards against Clemson in the Gator Bowl.

Northwestern State recently lost projected starter Sterling Endsley to an ankle injury and is down to senior William Griffin and freshman Sidney Riley at tailback. The Demons are replacing Byron Lawrence, who finished his eligibility as the school's No. 2 all-time rusher.

Peveto acknowledged the “timing of this was very good'' for the Demons, who were 7-5 last season and compete in the Southland Conference with schools such as Sam Houston State, McNeese State, Stephen F. Austin and Central Arkansas.

“We're going to get him ready,'' Peveto said. “Of course he has to come in here and earn his spot, but we're looking for him to finish up this week strong, have a good week next week and hopefully be playing in that first game for us.''

Castille made the four-hour drive from LaPorte to Natchitoches early Friday and arrived around 9 a.m. Once he enrolled and signed his scholarship papers, he was ready to go.

“If I had to sit out a year, I would have taken that year and worked on all the things I needed to work on,'' Castille said. “Now I just have to come on this team and be that player I've always been. I think God put me in the best situation.''

Contact the writer:

444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com

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