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Penn State Football Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Opts Out Of Bowl, Declares For 2023 NFL Draft

Just four days after the conclusion of his fourth regular season donning the blue and white, Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr.’s college football days appear to be behind him.

The newly-named first-team All-Big Ten defensive back took to Twitter Wednesday evening to announce he’s forgoing the upcoming bowl game in preparation for the 2023 NFL Draft.

“My time at Penn State has been nothing short of a blessing,” Porter wrote. “After careful thought, I have decided to forego [sic] our bowl game and declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. From one dream to the next, I am excited to continue this next chapter.”

In 2019, Porter, the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers’ All-Pro linebacker Joey Porter Sr., saw action in four matchups as a true freshman. In a limited role, the rangy cornerback tallied three tackles and one pass defended behind the services of John Reid and Tariq Castro-Fields.

After maintaining his redshirt status, the Pittsburgh product nabbed eight starts in nine matchups throughout the Nittany Lions’ COVID-19-hindered season in 2020. During the span, Porter earned third-team All-Big Ten honors on the heels of 33 tackles and four passes defended.

Porter maintained his third-team All-Big Ten status in 2021 off of a signature third year stretch, which warranted the early attention of several NFL scouts. The lock-down mainstay notched 50 tackles across 13 starts, while also picking up one interception against Indiana.

Following the Nittany Lions’ Outback Bowl loss to Arkansas, Porter’s stock rose among way-too-early NFL mock draft boards. Publications including CBS Sports, Draft Wire, The Athletic, and Bleacher Reporter all slotted the defender as a potential first-round selection.

During his fourth go-around in Happy Valley, Porter began his redshirt junior campaign with a career-defining performance at Purdue. Throughout the last-minute, game-winning effort against the Boilermakers, Porter picked up six pass breakups, eight tackles, and a fumble recovery. 

Porter earned first-team All-Big Ten honors to close out the 2022 regular season, as he finished his historic run with 27 total hits, 11 pass breakups, and a lone fumble recovery. 

Currently, many mock drafts have Porter slotted as a likely top-15 selection, with most analysts pegging him as the No. 1 defensive back prospect.

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About the Author

Connor Krause

Connor Krause is a senior from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania double majoring in journalism and business. He is a lifelong Penn State football and basketball fan and enjoys rooting for Pittsburgh sports teams. In his free time, Connor can be found playing golf or pick-up basketball. You can follow his Twitter and Instagram @ckrause_31.

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