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For Penn State, 2019 ended with a departure and 2020 began with a return.
Cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields announced Wednesday evening that he would return to the Nittany Lions for his senior season, roughly 24 hours after top wideout KJ Hamler said he was entering the NFL draft.
Castro-Fields also had an eye on the pros following the end of the season but chose not to leave early.
“The NFL has been a dream of mine since I was 5 years old,” Castro-Fields posted on social media. “After discussing with my coaches and my family, I have decided to put this dream on hold and return to Penn State for my senior year.
“We have unfinished business to take care of, and our unique brotherhood is something I’m not ready to relinquish. Additionally, earning a degree from Penn State is extremely important to my family and I.”
The phrase “unfinished business” has been mentioned more than a few times by Penn State players returning for their senior seasons. Offensive linemen Michal Menet and Will Fries both used the same words last month when announcing their plans to stay as Penn State looks to take another run at the College Football Playoff in 2020.
Castro-Fields, Menet, Fries and star tight end Pat Freiermuth all turned down the draft this offseason while Hamler and potential first-round defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos are both leaving.
Starting defensive end Shaka Toney said after Penn State’s Cotton Bowl win on Saturday that he had yet to make a decision.
Castro-Fields’ return helps solidify a secondary that must replace two veteran starters in fifth-year seniors John Reid and Garrett Taylor. Safety Lamont Wade has a year of eligibility remaining but hasn’t made any definitive statements on his future.
Castro-Fields’ presence will help provide a bridge between his starting group and a trio of promising cornerbacks from the 2019 signing class in Keaton Ellis, Marquis Wilson and Joey Porter Jr.
Ellis and Wilson both played most of the season and did not redshirt as the Lions dealt with injuries at corner throughout the year.
Both rising sophomores will be in the mix for the starting job previously held by Reid along with junior Donovan Johnson and redshirt sophomore Trent Gordon. Johnson had been the top reserve before he suffered a season-ending injury back in September against Pitt.
Castro-Fields had 52 tackles (3.0 for loss) as a junior, and tied for the team lead in pass break-ups (eight) and interceptions (two). The Maryland native snuffed out any and all momentum against the home state Terrapins in September, as his goal-line pick was the closest the Terps got to a score.
Against Michigan in October, he made an impressive read of a screen pass and broke off his man to race into a crowd for a surprising interception that set up a Lions’ touchdown in a seven-point win.
With the Lions looking to make that breakthrough into the Playoff field, Castro-Fields will play a key role in their plans.
“One more year to make history,” Castro-Fields wrote. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”