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Penn State cornerback among Big Ten's most intriguing 2023 NFL draft prospects

IMG_1698 5 (1)by:David Eckert•05/12/22•

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A Penn State football helmet rests on a podium before an Outback Bowl news conference.

Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has been touted by The Athletic‘s Nick Baumgardner as one of the conference’s most intriguing draft prospects. Porter enters his fourth season with the Nittany Lions after declining to enter the NFL Draft process last offseason.

Porter’s size and physicality are what typically draw talent evaluators in, and this case is no different. Listed at 6-foot-2, 196 pounds, Porter has all the physical tools to be effective in coverage and contribute against the running game.

His performances weren’t always perfect in 2021, but he proved a key piece in an excellent Nittany Lion secondary.

Penn State allowed the fewest passing yards per game in the Big Ten East. It also finished second in the conference in total scoring defense behind only Wisconsin.

“Porter is a patient corner in press coverage,” Baumgardner wrote. “At times, it can feel too patient. But he’s at his best when he’s able to use the sideline as a defender and allow his length to erase lanes for both the quarterback to find and the receiver to run through. He’s physical when he needs to be and a good tackler who knows how to use his length.”

Baumgardner is certainly not the only analyst who has Porter underlined as a key NFL Draft prospect.

Porter frequently finds himself in the first round of way-too-early mock drafts. ESPN’s Todd McShay made him the 23rd overall choice by the Seattle Seahawks in his first attempt at a 2023 mock draft.

McShay praised Porter’s versatility, noting that he could be the future star that the Seahawks desperately need at that position.

One concern for some draft experts — and perhaps for James Franklin as well — is the absence of big plays in Porter’s game as of yet.

Porter has only one career interception to his name, coming in a contest against Indiana last season at Beaver Stadium.

Should that element arrive, Porter’s stock could jump even higher.

Other intriguing Penn State draft prospects

Baumgardner also mentioned three other interesting draft prospects on Penn State’s roster this season.

The first is wideout Parker Washington. Heading into his third season on campus, Washington could see his usage increase following the departure of Jahan Dotson. He reeled in 64 passes for 820 yards and four touchdowns last season.

Defensive tackle PJ Mustipher is also listed. Mustipher is currently rehabbing from a season-ending injury suffered midway through last season. When he’s on the field, though, Penn State fans know he’s a force.

Speaking to the media in mid-April, Franklin indicated Mustipher was “a little bit ahead of schedule.”

“We’re taking a fairly conservative approach, knowing that he’s played a lot of football for us and, most importantly, we gotta have him ready for Purdue and for the season,” Franklin said.

The final name listed by Baumgardner is tight end Theo Johnson. Johnson spent last season second on the depth chart behind Brenton Strange, but his athleticism clearly makes him a player who should be on the radar of NFL scouts if he can break out.

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