Penn State counting on Tariq Castro-Fields to be leader, lockdown corner as a senior

Tariq Castro-Fields is well aware what Penn State expects of him this season, as he’s being counted on to be both a leader and a lockdown defender at cornerback.

What Castro-Fields didn’t know is that none of the 37 Nittany Lions selected in the first round of the NFL Draft played in the secondary. Not one defensive back.

“I don’t think I was aware of that,” Castro-Fields said Wednesday in a virtual conference call. “If I put in the work every day, approach practice like it’s a game, I think everything will take care of itself. That’s what I believe in.”

The 6-foot, 190-pounder returns for his senior season with that in mind, planning to improve upon a junior season that started strong but left the Lions wanting more from Castro-Fields.

Penn State cornerbacks coach Terry Smith said last month he expects Castro-Fields to be the leader at cornerback in place of John Reid, who was chosen in the fourth round by the Houston Texans.

“Tariq, not to put pressure on him, needs to have a great year for us,” Smith said. “We need a lockdown corner that can handle the best receiver of whoever our opponent is. We expect Tariq to be that guy.”

Castro-Fields appeared up to the task early last season, recording a career high of eight tackles against Buffalo, Michigan and Indiana, as well as a pivotal interception against Maryland and another pick against Michigan. But his play suffered later in the season, after an undisclosed injury against Ohio State lingered, which Castro-Fields called a “frustrating process.”

“His season last year was almost like two different seasons,” Smith said. “The first half of the season he came out of the gate looking like a first-round draft pick. Then he suffered an injury and from that injury on, he was a different player. He wasn’t as confident, he wasn’t as sure of himself. … One of our offseason plans and goals for him is to make sure that he can be more consistent throughout the season.”

Confidence is no longer lacking for Castro-Fields, who declared himself “fully healthy” and “ready to go.” He has spent previous seasons learning from the leaders at his position, trying to “take a little quality” from each and “add it to my repertoire.”

From Reid, Castro-Fields found value in film study. From Smith, he has spent the offseason focusing on fundamentals so that he’s capable of playing in press coverage as well as he does off the ball. Castro-Fields finished with 52 tackles, two interceptions and 10 pass breakups last season.

“I think I was playing with a lot of confidence and being physical,” Castro-Fields said. “I thought I knew the defense really well, which allowed me to play fast. My confidence was something that each game I was showing myself what I can do, and it really helped.”

The Lions are counting on Castro-Fields to play at a higher level, providing leadership at the position for redshirt junior Donovan Johnson, sophomores Keaton Ellis and Marquis Wilson and redshirt freshmen Daequan Hardy of Penn Hills, Joey Porter Jr. of North Allegheny and Makai Self.

And, perhaps, to change history at Penn State.

“There’s no added pressure to him because it’s something he wants for himself,” Smith said. “He wants to be a first-round draft pick.”