Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/797655
P enn State signed one of the nation's top defensive back groups in February. Five-star cornerback Lamont Wade may have earned most of the attention, but cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields is another name that Nittany Lion fans will be hear- ing a lot in the coming years. A four-star prospect from Upper Marl- boro, Md., Castro-Fields earned more than 20 scholarship o6ers over the course of his junior and senior seasons, but it was clear from the start that the Nittany Lions had his attention. Once he received an o6er from the coaching sta6 in February 2016, he admitted to reporters that the Lions were among his early favorites. However, unlike many prospects, Castro- Fields always planned to take his time and not rush a decision. "A lot of recruits fall in love with a school a7er just one or two visits and they end up committing before they're really ready. I never wanted to do that," he said. "When you back out of a commitment, that shows people the kind of person that you are. I'm not that kind of person. I want to make sure that people know I'm a person that keeps their word and sticks by their com- mitments." Along with Penn State, Castro-Fields was also very interested in Alabama and Maryland. He originally planned to com- mit on Jan. 23 but later pushed back his announcement until signing day. Ulti- mately, the choice came down to the two Big Ten schools. "I loved all the coaches and all of the schools I was considering at the end," Cas- tro-Fields said. "They all had a lot that I liked, but even when I postponed my de- cision, I was still pretty sure that Penn State was the right school for me. I just wanted to think about it a little bit more. That's all it really was. I wanted to make sure I could sleep at night, knowing that I was 100 percent correct with my decision. It's one of the biggest decisions, maybe the biggest decision, I'll ever make." So, what was it about the Nittany Lions that put them over the top? "Well, there was a lot that I liked," he said. "One thing that I really liked was the distance from home. I think it's a good dis- tance for me. It's not so far that I have to 5y home, but it is outside of Maryland. I wanted to get out of my home state. I wanted to get out there and meet new peo- ple. I think that'll make me a better man in the long run. Their football program was also a big plus. The team had an amazing season. Everyone knows that this team is on the rise right now. I wanted to be a part of something special and I believe PSU is about to do that." At 6-foot-0, 185 pounds, Castro-Fields is the tallest of the 4ve defensive backs who recently signed with the Nittany Lions. His height and reach were major reasons why he was arguably the sta6's top target heading down the stretch, but the Riverdale Baptist prospect also showed that he had the competitive attitude that Penn State is looking for. "One thing that I believe has separated me from other guys ever since I was little was just my mindset," he said. "I've always wanted to prove myself. I never thought I was good enough already or anything like that. I feel like some recruits that can play at this level don't always push themselves the absolute hardest that they can, mainly because they're already really good. "I'm always going to have a chip on my shoulder. I'm always going to want to show people that I can keep improving. I really believe that I have a di6erent mentality than some other players, and that will never be something I shy away from. I think that's a big reason why I'm now in this position." The Nittany Lions will be hoping that Castro-Fields continues to display that same mindset once he sets foot on cam- pus. If he does, there's a good chance that he'll be playing long beyond his time in the blue and white. "I'm the kind of guy that's strong- minded and will give the team everything that I can," he said. "I'm so excited to be part of this program, to grow with them and have a chance to compete on the biggest stage. I can't wait to challenge my- self against so many great Big Ten play- makers." ■ Castro-Fields eager to be part of something special' ' | U P C L O S E & P E R S O N A L CLICK HERE to see video of Castro-Fields in action. THE CASTRO-FIELDS FILE STATS Helped Riverdale Baptist go 30-9 and win a league champi- onship during his four years as a starter... Didn't allow a single com- pletion playing cornerback during his senior season... Was a teammate of current Nittany Lion redshirt fresh- man cornerback Zech McPhearson HONORS Named a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, as well as the No. 4 player in Maryland and No. 26 safety nationally... Made USA Today's All- State team as a senior... Received first-team Washington Post All-Met honors... Named honorable men- tion All-Maryland by DMVelite follow- ing junior season Rivals.com