Tariq Castro-Fields drawing from Penn State experience in NFL

Long before Tariq Castro-Fields reached the NFL, his strong relationship with Terry Smith had been established. Spending five seasons together at Penn State, the bond between an assistant coach and player will do that.

But, in his first meeting with San Francisco 49ers media during the team’s rookie minicamp last weekend, Castro-Fields detailed just how secure they were with each other.

“After (my sophomore season), I was really coaching,” Castro-Fields said. “When he says I was coaching, I would be like, ‘Coach Smith, I got this.’ And I would coach up the drill or help out with the technique.”

Having arrived at Penn State ahead of the 2017 season, that trust was earned. Through immediate playing time and immediate contribution to the defense, the pair built a foundation upon which to grow.

So, recounting that his early playing time as a freshman gave him the confidence to start to lead as a sophomore, the final three years of his Penn State career were impactful from a leadership perspective. 

“Tariq means so much, not just to the guys in that corner room, but across the secondary, the back seven,” former defensive coordinator Brent Pry recalled ahead of the 2020 season. “He’s just an inspiration to everybody. His work ethic, his maturity, and his talent. He’s just an exceptional young man, he’s got leadership qualities, he’s an unselfish player, and he’s highly competitive.”

Tariq Castro-Fields’ Penn State path

Of course, Castro-Fields’ experience on the field in those last three years was filled with ups and downs.

An All-Big Ten third-team pick as a junior, his decision to return in 2020 was upended by injury early in the season. Starting the COVID-impacted year with productive performances against Indiana, Ohio State, and Maryland, Castro-Fields was relegated to the sidelines the rest of the way.

Afterward, he had a decision to make that drew on that connection long since built with Smith. 

“When you’re going through the process of a kid coming back for an extra year versus going to the NFL, we always want to weigh all the factors and ultimately do what’s best for the student-athlete. And in this case for Tariq, we just felt like, with his injury and missing so many games this year, there was just a lot of unfinished business,” Smith said last spring. “We know he had an opportunity to go to the NFL and be drafted somewhere in the middle rounds. 

“And we just felt like if he could leave on a better note, he can help his draft status. He can help himself improve, and ultimately, he can help our team improve. We just weighed that out. Tariq and his mom prayed on it. And they just felt like it was right to come back.”

Still, able to fully rehabilitate in time for the 2021 season, Castro-Fields started 12 games for the Nittany Lion defense. In the process, he finished with 32 tackles and had six passes broken up. His college career completed, he was selected by the 49ers in the sixth round of the NFL Draft in April.

Next steps

Reflecting on his time at Penn State, Castro-Fields is unequivocal about his confidence that everything happened for a reason.

“I wouldn’t trade anything. Obviously, you want things to kind of be better. But I grew up a lot from all of the situations that happened,” he said. “The ups and downs ultimately made me a better person, a better teammate. 

“That Penn State experience was one of a kind. It’s the brotherhood we created. And just the fellowship we have and all the connections I made, it’s just one of a kind.”

Now battling to for a role with the 49ers, Castro-Fields is drawing back on his Penn State experience for inspiration.

So, having already grown as an on-field leader and, in many ways, a coach, Castro-Fields intends to pursue the profession upon the conclusion of his playing career. 

“That just shows the room I’m gonna be accountable for you. I care about how you perform, and I care about more than you just as a football player. Because, I got to know the guys,” he said. “I really was coaching though. That was super fun.”