Former Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has been selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 32nd overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
He’ll be joining his dad’s old team.
Porter’s selection in the first round has been inevitable for a while, and the inevitable became reality Thursday night in Kansas City.
Porter was one of 17 prospects who attended the draft in person.
His father, Joey Porter Sr., had a 13-year career in the league, spending eight seasons with the Steelers, three with the Dolphins and two more with the Cardinals. The elder Porter’s best years in the NFL came with Pittsburgh, where he was selected to four Pro Bowls, made first-team All-Pro in 2002 and helped the Steelers to a Super Bowl win in the 2005 season.
Porter was an All-American and first-team All-Big Ten player in 2022, recording 27 tackles, 11 pass breakups, a quarterback hurry, and a fumble recovery in Penn State’s win over Purdue on opening night. Now, he’s the first Penn State defensive back in school history to go in the first round.
2023 is the third straight season in which Penn State’s had a first-round NFL draft pick. Micah Parsons (12th overall, Dallas Cowboys) and Odafe Oweh (31st overall, Baltimore Ravens) went on the first night and 2021, and Jahan Dotson (16th overall, Washington Commanders) went in the first round last year.
Porter’s work over four seasons at Penn State impressed his position coach, Terry Smith.
“He’s done a tremendous job,” Smith said in October. “He’s worked his tail off. This guy’s constantly in the weight room, out on the field. In the meeting room. Everything that he’s getting, he’s absolutely worked hard and deserved to get.”
“He’s reaping the rewards of arguably one of the better corners to ever play here at Penn State,” Smith said.
