When the San Francisco 49ers drafted former Penn State cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields with last pick (221st overall) in the sixth round, they added a defender with the requisite experience in big games against quality opponents.
Castro-Fields (6-foo-1, 197 pounds) played at Penn State from 2017-21, appearing in 52 games with 30 starts, including three as a sophomore in ’18. He was named honorable mention All-Big Ten in his final three seasons by conference coaches (third-team by the media in ’19).
He compiled an impressive career stat line, with 138 tackles (93 solo), 10 TFLs (one sack), three interceptions, 28 pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
Finally, opponents got wise and steered away from Castro-Fields, who did not record a TFL or interception in his final two seasons. But he collected six pass breakups last season and was later timed in 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
He missed all but three games in 2020 with an injury and also did not play in the Outback Bowl against Arkansas after the 2021 season.
His best season might have been 2019 when he first became a full-time starter. He collected career highs in tackles (52) and pass breakups (10). But an undisclosed medical setback robbed him of his consistency later in the season.
“His (2019) season was almost like two different seasons,” cornerbacks coach Terry Smith told 247sports.com before the 2020 season. “The first half of the season, he came out of the gate looking like a first-round draft pick. He played very well. And then he suffered an injury. And from that injury on, he was a different player.”
