Penn State Football senior cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields announced Saturday that he plans to return for a fifth season in 2021.
Penn State football cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields announced he will take advantage of an NCAA rule granting an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19, and return for a fifth season to the Nittany Lions.
Castro-Fields started three games for Penn State Football this season before an injury sidelined him for the final six contests.
The senior tallied 12 total tackles and a pass breakup in those three games early on. In his career, Castro-Fields has played a lot of football, appearing in 40 games, racking up 106 tackles, three interceptions and 22 pass breakups. His veteran leadership having been through the highs and lows of the cornerback position will be invaluable to the Nittany Lions next fall.
After accepting an invite to the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl in October, it prompted many to believe this would be Castro-Fields’ final year in the blue and white, but the injury limited the game tape for NFL evaluators so Fields will opt to return. He is the first Penn State football senior to capitalize on the extra year, as fellow seniors Shaka Toney, Michael Menet, Will Fries and Shane Simmons have all already announced they are moving on.
Just a few short weeks ago Penn State head coach James Franklin went out and added former South Carolina cornerback Johnny Dixon via the transfer portal, so the return of Castro-Fields means this group has the potential to be the best cornerback group during Franklin’s tenure.
The secondary has been an issue for the Nittany Lions over the years when they face more explosive offenses, and in todays game where the best teams can put up 40 points on the scoreboard without breaking a sweat, you need to have the ‘dudes’ on the outside that can match up.
This past season, Penn State Football’s defense ranked third in the Big Ten in passing yards allowed per game with 198.6.
On paper the pass defense was very strong, however its the performance against Ohio State and late in the game against Indiana that fans will point to as a reason for concern. It is one thing to be effective against the likes of Rutgers and Illinois, but if this program wants to reach new heights, they will have to prove it against the Ohio State’s of the world.
With Castro-Fields back in the mix for 2021, lets take a quick look at how the cornerback room is shaping up for next fall:
Johnny Dixon
Sophomore Johnny Dixon brings SEC experience arriving in Happy valley via the transfer portal.
He became a starter for the Gamecocks this season after their top two corners opted out for the season due to covid-19. Dixon, listed at six-foot and 185 pounds, totaled 34 tackles and five pass breakups in 2020, while also intercepting a pass in his freshman season in 2019.
Last season, the Tampa, Florida native allowed the fourth lowest completion percentage in the SEC, with quarterbacks completing just 35.3% of passes thrown in his direction. Dixon brings three years of eligibility with him to the Nittany Lions, but expect him to at least compete for a starting role, if not be one of the first corners in the rotation off the sidelines for defensive coordinator Brent Pry.
Joey Porter Jr.
Expect Dixon to compete with redshirt freshman Joey Porter Jr., who was given the starting nod coming out of training camp and never looked back.
Porter Jr. was arguably Penn State Football’s best defender this season, tallying 34 tackles, one sack and four passes defended. The interceptions eluded him this past season but Porter Jr. proved he can take on the opponent’s best wide receiver while Tariq Castro-Fields was sidelined with an injury.
Porter was awarded Big Ten freshman of the week honors in the win at Rutgers, where he had seven tackles and was glued to Scarlet Knight wideouts all afternoon.
Keaton Ellis
Sophomore Keaton Ellis saw a lot of playing time as a freshman, appearing in all 13 games and making one start for the Nittany Lions. This past season, he was oddly absent for three games early on, however did play in six games making 12 tackles and picked up his first career interception in the season finale against Illinois.
Ellis played well down the stretch and was a big part of the defense’s improvement over their four game win streak to end the season. the State College native was trusted as a freshman and could be a big part of the depth and rotation of this position group in 2021.
Marquis Wilson
Sophomore cornerback Marquis Wilson made his impact felt early in his career.
Playing in 10 game a freshman in 2019, and seemingly always around the ball, Wilson racked up two interceptions, two pass breakups and forced an impressive three fumbles, with one recovery.
Wilson really shined in the Cotton Bowl against Memphis when his interception late iced the game and victory for Penn State football.
The Connecticut native played in seven games this past season, totaling 13 tackles and two pass breakups but did not take the steps forward many expected. This was a weird offseason and effected everyone differently due to covid-19, expect Wilson to come back strong in 2021 and play a meaningful part of this secondary.