An experienced defensive back is returning for one last ride with Penn State football.

Senior cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields announced on Twitter Saturday that he’ll return to Happy Valley for the 2021 football season. He is the first Nittany Lion to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility offered by the NCAA this year.

Castro-Fields only appeared in the Nittany Lions’ first three games of the 2020 season before becoming medically unavailable. He accumulated 12 tackles and a pass breakup in those three games, which was good enough to earn him an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Before 2020, Castro-Fields appeared in at least 12 games each of his first three years in Happy Valley. He’s totaled 106 career tackles and three interceptions during his college career.

Castro-Fields will provide some valuable veteran leadership to what is still a relatively young cornerback room. An extra year in college will also allow him to build up his draft stock if he were to enter the 2022 NFL Draft.

This season, Joey Porter Jr. and Marquis Wilson saw the majority of snaps for the Nittany Lions after Castro-Fields became unavailable. Keaton Ellis, Daequan Hardy, and South Carolina transfer Johnny Dixion will also be in the mix for snaps next year.

About the Author

Connor Donohue

Connor is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. He hails from the great state of New Jersey and is proud of it. Lover of the greatest city in the world, New York City, he strongly dislikes the city of Philadelphia and will not hesitate to tell you that. He's also been cursed as a Penn State fan since birth. If you want to call him a bum or maybe go out on a date with him, follow him on twitter @ConnorDonohue00 or email him at connortdonohue@gmail.com

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