2021 Penn State Nittany Lions Profile Card: Joey Porter Jr.
Name: Joey Porter Jr.
Number: 9
Position: Cornerback
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Height: 6′-2″
Weight: 195
Hometown: Bakersfield, CA
High School: North Allegheny (PA)
Twitter: @jjporter_1
Overview
Sometimes football just runs in the family. That is clearly the case for Penn State redshirt sophomore Joey Porter Jr. The son of former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter and cousin to a handful of former college football and NFL players, Joey Porter Jr. did not need too much time to showcase what he is capable of doing on the football field at the cornerback position.
The former four-star recruit committed to Penn State in December 2018 and appeared in four games as a true freshman in 2019. Appearing in just four games allowed Porter to retain a redshirt year of eligibility. As a redshirt freshman in 2020, Porter appeared in eight of Penn State’s nine games played, including his first career start for the Nittany Lions. In those games, Porter made 33 tackles (24 solo tackles) and was credited for one sack and four pass breakups.
The fire and intensity he brings to the field is reminiscent of his father, but Porter is looking to make a name for himself. The flashes of brilliance have shown through and Porter appears to be a player who can keep himself motivated.
Super excited that @jjporter_1 collecting post season recognition. If you know JJ you know he’s not satisfied. Next year is about to be crazy. That Jim Thorpe Award is the goal. #DC5 pic.twitter.com/ntOq8gBaol
— Sean L. McCaskill (@DC5StarAthlete) December 17, 2020
Porter was awarded All-Big Ten third team by the Big Ten media in 2020, and the coaches gave him an honorable mention at the end of the season. Entering 2021, Porter figures to be a key player in Penn State’s defensive secondary. But with the depth at the position being so strong, how many reps and opportunities Porter gets to shine remains to be seen. But he is too talented to keep off the field regularly, so expect Penn State to find ways to keep him involved in the game plan.
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Penn State Nittany Lions 2021 Football Schedule
