Penn State's Joey Porter Jr. declares for the NFL draft
Dec. 1—Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. declared for the NFL draft via a post on Twitter Wednesday.
Porter, a redshirt junior, is projected to be a first-round draft pick.
"After careful thought, I have decided to forego our bowl game and declare for the 2022 NFL Draft," Porter wrote in his statement. "From one dream to the next, I am excited to continue this next chapter."
Porter, the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, was named Tuesday to the All-Big Ten first team in separate voting by coaches and media.
This season, he has 11 pass break-ups, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry despite opponents often choosing not to throw in his direction.
"First and foremost, I sincerely appreciate my teammates, coaches, family and every member of the Penn State community who have made the last four years so memorable," Porter wrote. "My time at Penn State has been nothing short of a blessing.
"To my family, thank you for the unconditional love and support. I wouldn't be the man I am today without the love and guidance from my Mom. To my Dad, thank you for introducing me to the game I love and for always pushing me to be my best. To my coaches and teammates, I will cherish the memories we have made and the lessons we have learned together. I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded by men who exemplify what it means to be hard-working leaders and for that I am grateful."
