Player Spotlight: Joey Porter Jr.
Coming into Penn State’s 2020 campaign, a lot of eyes have been on the secondary, in due part to Garrett Taylor and John Reid departing for the NFL. Redshirt freshman Joey Porter Jr. has emerged as one of the more exciting young players within the secondary, producing 13 total tackles, 11 solo tackles, two assisted tackles and one sack in three games.
With an 0-3 record for Penn State, Porter Jr. recognizes the importance of getting the first win of 2020.
“I just feel like we really need to focus on being 1-0, just focus on trying to get the next one,” Porter Jr. said. “When we do that as a team, we will be fine.”
With the defense allowing 30 or more points in each of the first three games, Porter Jr. addressed that he and the entire defensive unit need to improve.
“I feel like I should be worried about more of the things I need to fix in myself, to help the defense to be better,” Porter said. “And I feel like the defense overall needs to step up their gameplay, and we’ll be all better.”
Since being promoted to a starting corner, Porter Jr. described how he’s elevated his game.
“Just throughout the whole quarantine, just me and my brothers, just working out with my dad,” Porter Jr. said.
Being the son of Super Bowl 40 champion and four-time Pro Bowler Joey Porter, Porter Jr. explained how he and his father share their love of football.
“We call each other and we talk on the phone how I played,” Porter Jr. said. “I just try to ask him as much questions as I can because he knows the game.”
Heading into a must-win game versus Nebraska on Nov. 14, Porter Jr. detailed the importance of stopping the Nebraska running game.
“We know they like to run the ball, so we know it’s going to be a physical game,” Porter Jr. said. “We just need to worry about being 1-0 and executing.”
Jordan Hession is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email hessionjordan@gmail.com.