Coming into his college career, Antoine Belgrave-Shorter was set to be a cornerback.
Then, an unfortunate turn of events changed things.
Between Penn State’s first and second games last season, the team’s best safety, KJ Winston, suffered what turned out to be a season-ending injury.
Penn State’s safety depth before Winston’s injury wasn’t great and was in a worse spot without him, so something had to be done.
The coaching staff looked at Belgrave-Shorter— then a true freshman, as somebody who could make the transition.
Now, Belgrave-Shorter is entering his second college football season and first at safety. He’s the subject of All 105, a Nittany Sports Now series profiling each Penn State player.
Height: 6-feet
Weight: 202 pounds
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.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.
Last year: Belgrave-Shorter kept his redshirt intact, playing in a total of five games (with two coming in the College Football Playoff.) He almost had his first touchdown in a 56-0 win over Kent State, but his fumble return for a TD was called back after review.
Where he stands: Penn State’s unofficial depth chart lists Belgrave-Shorter as the team’s No. 3 strong safety behind projected starter Dejuan Lane and King Mack. But with first-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles expected to run a five-man defensive backfield, Belgrave-Shorter could have some opportunities.
It’s also worth noting that Belgrave-Shorter’s high school classmate, Jon Mitchell, entered the transfer portal over the spring and is now at Georgia Tech, so playing without Mitchell is sure to be an adjustment.
A quote by Belgrave-Shorter: “I like hitting a lot. If I come down, I get a good angle on someone, and then we’re head to head, I’m just full speed nonstop.” — Belgrave-Shorter to reporters this February, via Lexie Linderman of the Daily Collegian.
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Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
