CAREER NOTES & RECORDS
Played in 52 career games, making 30 starts at cornerback...Recorded 138 tackles (93 solo), 10 tackles for loss, three interceptions, 25 pass breakups and a forced fumble.
2021 • SENIOR (+) SEASON
Awards: Postseason: Named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media...Accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl...Earned the Quarterback Club Award at the team's awards banquet. Preseason: Selected to the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List...Selected for NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Preseason Big Board.
Season: Made 12 starts at cornerback...Made 32 tackles (27 solo) and broke up six passes.
at Wisconsin (9/4): Tallied five solo tackles. Ball State (9/11): Recorded three tackles. Auburn (9/18): Added two tackles and a pass breakup. Villanova (9/25): Had one tackle and a pass breakup. Indiana (10/2): Recorded two pass breakups...Added two tackles. at Iowa (10/9): Tallied three tackles. Illinois (10/23): Recorded six tackles (4 solo) and a pass breakup. at Ohio State (10/30): Posted two tackles. at Maryland (11/6): Recorded three solo tackles. Rutgers (11/20): Recorded a solo tackle. at Michigan State (11/27): Had four tackles (3 solo).
2020 • SENIOR SEASON
Awards: Voted an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection by the coaches and media...Voted by the coaching staff as the Ridge Riley Memorial Award Winner along with Will Fries...Earned degree in sociology following the 2021 spring semester.
Season: Made three starts...Totaled 12 tackles (6 solo) and added a pass breakup...Played in the first three games before missing the remainder of the season due to injury.
at Indiana (10/24): Collected five tackles, including four solo...Added a pass breakup. Ohio State (10/31): Made one stop, marking his 100th career tackle. Maryland (11/7): Notched six tackles.
2019 • JUNIOR SEASON
Awards: Postseason: Voted All-Big Ten third team by the media and honorable mention by the coaches...Named Phil Steele All-Big Ten third team. Weekly: Selected to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week first team following the Iowa game (10/12)...Named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week second team after the Maryland game (9/27).
Season: Made 12 starts...Registered two interceptions and eight pass breakups, both tied for the team lead...Tallied 52 tackles (32 solo) and three tackles for loss (first among Penn State's cornerbacks)...Named the coaching staff's Defensive Player of the Week twice (Maryland - 9/27; Michigan - 10/19).
Idaho (8/31): Registered three tackles, including a tackle for loss. Buffalo (9/7): Recorded a career-best eight tackles, including one for loss...Added two pass breakups. Pittsburgh (9/14): Made five stops...Had a solo tackle for loss. at Maryland (9/27): Picked off a pass and returned it for five yards in the first quarter to stop Maryland in the end zone...Added two pass breakups. Purdue (10/5): Secured one tackle. at Iowa (10/12): Recorded six tackles...Broke up a pass. Michigan (10/19): Made a career-high-tying eight tackles...Intercepted a pass in the second quarter and returned it 3 yards...Added a pass breakup. at Michigan State (10/26): Collected two tackles and two pass breakups. at Minnesota (11/9): Notched five tackles. Indiana (11/16): Matched a career-high with eight tackles, including six solo. at Ohio State (11/23): Secured two tackles. vs. Memphis (12/28): Made four tackles, including three solo.
2018 • SOPHOMORE SEASON
Awards: Selected to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week following the Kent State game (9/15).
Season: Appeared in 13 games, making three starts...One of 20 Nittany Lions to make their first career start...Tied for second on the team with seven pass breakups.
Appalachian State (9/1): Posted four stops and broke up two passes. at Pittsburgh (9/8): Earned first career start...Recorded a season-high five tackles. Kent State (9/15): Made three stops, including one full tackle for loss...Added a pass breakup. at Illinois (9/21): Recorded one tackle...Broke up one pass. Ohio State (9/29): Recorded four tackles...Added one pass breakup. Michigan State (10/13): Posted two tackles and broke up a pass. at Indiana (10/20): Registered four tackles...Made a solo tackle for loss. Iowa (10/27): Collected one solo tackle and a pass breakup. Wisconsin (11/10): Recorded one solo tackle. at Rutgers (11/17): Made one solo tackle. Maryland (11/24): Registered three tackles...Had a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss. vs. Kentucky (1/1): Recorded three tackles...Matched a career high with 1.5 tackles for loss and registered first career sack.
2017 • TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON
Awards: Named to BTN.com's All-Freshman Team as an honorable mention...Named to the Pro Football FocusBig Ten Team of the Week following his effort at Michigan State (11/7).
Season: Appeared in 12 games...Made collegiate debut vs. Akron (9/2)...One of 24 student-athletes to make their collegiate debut in 2017...One of 17 freshmen (14 redshirt, 3 true) to appear in 2017...Registered eight of his 10 tackles in the final three games of the season.
Akron (9/2): Made collegiate debut. Pittsburgh (9/9): Collected first career tackle in the fourth quarter. Georgia State (9/16): Made first career interception on a leaping grab in the third quarter...at Ohio State (10/28): Collected one tackle. at Michigan State (11/4): Broke up a career-high three passes. Nebraska (11/18): Posted three stops. at Maryland (11/25): Made a season-high four tackles...Forced first career fumble in the second quarter, which was recovered by Robert Windsor and eventually led to Penn State’s fourth touchdown of the game...Logged first career tackle for loss on a solo stop in the fourth quarter. vs. Washington (12/30): Collected one tackle, a first quarter TFL.
HIGH SCHOOL
Played for head coach Caesar Nettles at Riverdale Baptist...Served as team captain as a senior...Played with former Nittany Lion teammate Zech McPhearson at Riverdale Baptist...Helped the Crusaders to the 2013 Independent Athletics Conference Championship and an 11-0 record...Selected first-team USA Today All-State as a senior...Named Washington Post All-Met first team in 2016...Selected DMVelite All-Maryland honorable mention in 2015...Participated in Nike's The Opening Regional where he was named the top defensive back...Selected to participate in the Crab Bowl...Tabbed a four-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and Scout and a three-star prospect from ESPN...Ranked as the No. 5 player in Maryland, No. 26 cornerback and No. 236 overall prospect by 247Sports...Ranked as No. 2 in Maryland, No. 3 in the East and No. 29 overall among cornerbacks by Scout...Ranked No. 283 overall prospect on the Scout300 list...Rated the No. 26 safety in the country and No. 4 player in Maryland by Rivals...Ranked the No. 10 player in Maryland, No. 40 cornerback and No. 61 prospect in the region by ESPN...Lettered in track & field three years...Had the fastest 4x400 time in the state of Maryland during the indoor season of his sophomore year.
PERSONAL
Full name is Tariq Quinton Castro-Fields...Son of Erlinda Castro...Earned degree in sociology.