Thanks in part to Antoine Belgrave-Shorter, the Mandarin High School football family will be paying close attention to Penn State football for the next few years.
On April Fools Day 2023, Mandarin CB Jon Mitchell committed to Penn State.
Less than two weeks later, Belgrave-Shorter joined him.
This season will be the beginning of a new wave for Penn State’s defensive backs. The top three corners from last season— Kalen King, Johnny Dixon and Daequan Hardy— are all departed.
PSU brought in a pair of SEC transfers in A.J. Harris (Georgia) and Jalen Kimber (Florida) to join a group of returning CBs that includes Cam Miller and Zion Tracy.
Belgrave-Shorter will be starting his college football journey this season, and he’s the latest subject of All 105, a Nittany Sports Now series profiling each Penn State football player.
Height: 6-feet
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Weight: 194 pounds
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Before Penn State: Antoine Belgrave-Shorter was a standout at Mandarin, reaching captain status as a senior and helping his team to a berth in the state championship game. He ended his senior season with four interceptions— one of which being a pick-six— 72 tackles, eight pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Belgrave-Shorter was rated as a consensus three-star prospect.
Where he stands: Even without King, Dixon and Hardy, Penn State should still be in good enough shape at cornerback to where a true freshman like Belgrave-Shorter wouldn’t be needed in high-pressure situations. The key for Belgrave-Shorter this season will be to impress on the practice field enough to make Penn State’s coaching staff continue to feel good about him as a key part of the future.
A quote by Belgrave-Shorter: ”It looked like I could fit right into the system. (Terry Smith) talked about how he could develop me on and off the field and how much the staff treats you like their child. He’s a pretty genuine guy who wants to work.” — Belgrave-Shorter to Lions247 after his commitment.
A quote about Belgrave-Shorter: ”Physical defensive back prospect that defended both the pass and the run at a high level as a senior in the Sunshine State’s highest classification. Size hasn’t been third-party verified, but multiple in-person evaluations suggest that he’s over 5-foot-11 and north of 180 pounds with a thicker build. Uses his hands to get wide receivers off schedule while feeling out routes. Displays the ability to both locate and quickly get to the football. Spent much of prep career working as an outside corner in a press-heavy scheme. Could likely do the same at the next level, but might also warrant a look at safety given how he reads with his eyes and gets off blocks. Should be viewed as a potential multi-year starter at the Power Five level with all-conference upside that can be featured on multiple special teams units.” — 247’s Andrew Ivins’ scouting reporter of Belgrave-Shorter.
