Penn State corner Joey Porter Jr., talks decision to come back for 2022, Outback Bowl, and more
Tampa, Fla. — Penn State corner Joey Porter Jr. did not immediately decide that he’d play another game in a blue or white uniform after a 30-27 loss at Michigan State to end the 2021 regular season.
Instead, the third-year defender from Pittsburgh said that a lifelong dream of playing in the NFL made the decision a tough one.
In the end, however, Porter Jr., concluded that there were still ways he could improve before moving on. So, on Christmas Day, he announced on social media that he would be back in 2022. He then discussed it for the first time with reporters on Tuesday prior to an Outback Bowl meeting with Arkansas.
“The NFL has always been my dream,” Porter Jr. said. “I always wanted to play there. But talking with my family and my friends, and even staff members and teammates, they were we’re here for you so whatever decision you make, we’re gonna love you at the end of the day. Them telling me that really made my process easier to come back and hanging out with my guys.”
Porter Jr., is an aggressive corner. Over 12 games this year, he made 49 tackles in addition to four pass breakups and an interception. He has shown considerable improvement during each season so far in State College.
“At each level, I feel like, in high school, I didn’t know there was that much to the game,” Porter Jr. said. “I thought I knew everything until I came to college, and I found this whole new world of football. I feel it’s gonna be the same way with NFL.
“So just picking up knowledge and really expanding on that is going to be key for me.”
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Finally, on the decision front, Penn State players deserve some credit, too. It was clear that the bond he’s built with teammates played a big role, too.
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“I have my brothers here,” Porter Jr., said. “Thinking about leaving them was pretty tough for me. I felt like I was ready. But, I felt like there could be another step I could take to be that number one guy across the whole country.
“That’s what I really want to be, that number one guy that knows what to do. Coming back here I will have to just go to work, and that’s what I want to do.”
More: Penn State practices in Tampa before the Outback Bowl: Quick hitters
Porter Jr., also discussed penalties
While Porter Jr.’s style of play is one of his biggest attributes, it also got him into trouble at times with defensive pass interference penalties.
What was going on with those plays and how can they be fixed?
“I’m a physical corner,” Porter Jr. said. “I like to be physical, I like to take out the number one wide receiver. So we being physical there were definitely calls that I feel like I have to clean those up.
“But, there were calls where I feel like they called it because of my name and what I’ve done in previous games. Those started just to pile up. But, I definitely took those into consideration and try to work on myself to better myself for next year.”
