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2023 Mock Draft Includes History for Joey Porter Jr, Penn State Football

By Alec Whitaker

STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 18: Joey Porter Jr. #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts during the second half of the game against the Auburn Tigers at Beaver Stadium on September 18, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 18: Joey Porter Jr. #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts during the second half of the game against the Auburn Tigers at Beaver Stadium on September 18, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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The 2022 NFL Draft is less than two days old, but experts are already focused on predicting next year’s first round.

Penn State Football had eight players selected in this past weekend’s 2022 NFL Draft, and now some experts believe the Nittany Lions are poised for a strong follow-up in the 2023 draft.

Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report released his way-too-early predictions for the 2023 NFL Draft and he has a Nittany Lion in his prediction.

The Nittany Lion is cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who Sobleski has going 30th overall to the Detroit Lions.

Here’s what Sobleski had to say about Porter:

"Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., meanwhile, brings a certain level of toughness and skill worthy of his name. Porter is a 6’2″, 196-pounder defensive back who has been taught the right way to play football by his All-Pro father. The younger Porter will stick his nose into the action and won’t concede a single inch."

So why is this significant for Penn State football?

Well, not only would this be a huge deal for Porter, but it would also give Penn State a first-round pick in three straight drafts. Additionally, Porter would be the first ever Penn State cornerback to go in the first round.

As shocking as that may sound, it’s true. Penn State, despite having 40 first round picks in the program’s proud history, hasn’t had a cornerback selected in the first round. In fact, the earliest a Penn State cornerback has been drafted was back in 1982, when Paul Lankford was the 25th pick of the third round by the Miami Dolphins.

Because there were less teams back in 1982, Lankford was the 80th overall pick in the draft. Meaning if Porter goes No. 79 overall (The 15th pick of the third round) or better in next year’s draft, he will be the highest selected Penn State cornerback in the history of the NFL Draft.

As we know, way-too-early mock drafts don’t always pan out. At this time last year, Spencer Rattler and Sam Howell were projected to be the top two picks in the 2022 draft. Rattler is still in college and Howell was a fifth round pick.

If this prediction was to come true though, it would certainly be a proud moment for the Porter family and the Penn State football program.

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