UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- It would seem like a match made in NFL Draft heaven -- the local kid coming home to play for the Steelers, just like his father did.
There's just one little problem with the whole Joey Porter Jr. to the Steelers thing. They don't pick until 17th in the first round, and the Penn State cornerback could be long gone by then.
I asked Porter during Penn State's pro day Friday if he thinks he'll still be around for the 17th pick.
"I don't know," he said. "I hope not."
The Steelers had a large contingent on hand Friday to check in on Porter and Penn State's draft-eligible players. But coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan were not present after going down to Alabama a day earlier.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin not only was present, he also took part in leading individual drills involving Porter and other Penn State defenders later on during pro day activities. Austin and Porter chatted during the day, and Austin also was seen talking with safety Ji'Ayir Brown for an extended period.
Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin working with Joey Porter Jr. during Penn State’s pro day. pic.twitter.com/7eOKBjQ8Bs
— Cory Giger (@CoryGiger) March 24, 2023
Assistant general manager Andy Weidl also was on hand for the Steelers, as well as defensive backs coach Grady Brown and tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts.
Porter and Tomlin have extensive personal history, and everyone knows his father, Joey Sr., was a Super Bowl-winning player for the Steelers before later serving as an assistant coach.
So, has the younger Porter spent much time with Tomlin or Khan in recent weeks?
"No, not really," he said, without offering any details.
Porter's name is obviously well known, first because of his dad, and now because of his play for Penn State during his career. So, it was no surprise that he was the most sought-after player to talk to during pro day.
Porter clearly has a connection with the Steelers organization, which is why so many mock drafters have predicted he will be picked by Pittsburgh.
"It's been good," he said of his connection with the Steelers. "I know a couple guys over there. Obviously, I know Coach Tomlin's sons and daughter and everything. So, got a good relationship with them.
"But at the end of the day, it's business, and if they want me, they will get me if they have the opportunity. Then we'll see what happens."
Opportunity is the key word there.
For instance, Porter also was seen talking with Eagles personnel at pro day, as well as other teams. The Eagles have the No. 10 pick, and they certainly could be interested in him.
Porter has been mocked as high as No. 7 overall (to the Raiders), and pretty much all mock drafts have him going in the first round.
That last part is significant, because in its long and successful history, Penn State has never had a defensive back drafted in the first round.
So, I asked Porter how he feels about likely being the first.
"It's definitely neat that I'm gonna be the first," he said. "I'm gonna go down in history at Penn State, so I can come back and show my kids that. Definitely a special moment. I'm gonna be the first and really just set the tone for who's coming behind me."
Porter pointed out that he has been invited to attend the draft, which will be held in Kansas City, and he will indeed be going.
"It feels great to follow in that line with other great athletes that went to Penn State and to follow up and be the next," he said.
"Since a young age, I've been watching people walk across that stage, so I'm definitely happy I can put on that hat."
Porter, who's been training for the draft in Los Angeles, is 6-foot-2 1/2 and 198 pounds. He ran a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and did 17 reps on the bench press. Friday at pro day, his vertical leap was 37 1/2 inches and his broad jump 10 feet, 11 inches.
Joey Porter Jr. with a broad jump of 10-11. pic.twitter.com/Byg4SbFxDV
— Cory Giger (@CoryGiger) March 24, 2023
Porter came to Penn State with a lot of name recognition, obviously, and was always seen as an extremely skilled athlete with tremendous upside. He did not, however, have a strong season for Penn State as a junior in 2021, committing numerous penalties and showing poor technique in coverage.
But all of that changed in 2022, beginning with the season opener. Porter had six pass breakups in the game at Purdue, earning him immediate recognition and turning heads of all NFL scouts.
The Purdue game showed he had learned how to live up to his potential, and Porter continued that all season as he proved to be a shutdown corner and earned second-team All-America honors.
"I feel like it just put myself on a bigger map," Porter said of that breakout game at Purdue. "I feel like I was already on the map, but people didn't take me serious. I feel like that game really shut down a lot of critics and a lot of he says, she says stuff about my game."