Penn State Football Preseason Top 10: No. 7 Tariq Castro-Fields

It’s time for our annual season top 10! Each summer, the staff votes on its top 10 players ahead of the upcoming season. A first place vote is worth 10 points, second place is worth nine points, and so on.

How He Got Here

Tariq Castro-Fields chose thee Nittany Lions in February 2017 as a top-40 cornerback and a top-10 player in Maryland. He appeared in 12 games as a freshman, recording 10 tackles, including four tackles and a forced fumble against Maryland.

In 2018, TCF started three of the 13 games he played in, tying for second on the team with seven pass break-ups. He followed that up with 12 starts, 52 tackles, eight pass break-ups, and two interceptions as a junior in 2019. Last season, Castro-Fields struggled with injuries, starting just three games and tallying 12 tackles.

What to Expect in 2021:

As one of several players that could’ve left for the NFL following the 2020 season, Castro-Fields is one of the leaders of a very talented secondary. He should make for an imposing and athletic combination with Joey Porter, Jr., Keaton Ellis, and South Carolina transfer Johnny Dixon. Eight pass breakups and four interceptions is certainly not out of the realm of possibility. TCF deserves a standout season to cap off his career, and fans of the Nittany Lions should expect nothing less.