Joey Porter Jr. talks Penn State, NFL hopes, and more

It is an exciting time to be a football fan right now. The NFL Combine is going on ahead of next month’s NFL Draft, the XFL is in full swing, college football spring ball is starting up, and more — the feel of fall football is in the air for the first time in months. During this weekend’s NFL Combine events, former Penn State star defensive back Joey Porter Jr. had a chance to talk about a variety of subjects with CBS Sports. Here is what the former Nittany Lion had to say.

Joey Porter Jr. talks matchup with Marvin Harrison

When looking at film, any good scout would look at Porter’s games against top competition. When it comes to college football wide receivers, no one has a better wideout room than the Ohio State Buckeyes — which is likely why the first question Porter was asked was about his matchup with Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison.

“Going into that game we knew it was going to be the money game,” Joey Porter Jr. said. “Every year O-State is the money game because they bring out great wide receivers throughout the years. And [Harrison] was the talk of the town, so I knew that was going to be the key matchup — me vs. him … Going into the game I was really ready and locked in for that. Not a lot of targets my way with him, I wish it was a little bit more — I was talking to CJ [Stroud] on the field like, ‘come on man throw it my way, I’m bored out here.’ But they’re great competitors and that’s what they do for a living is compete, so I was ready for that moment.”

Porter on staying focused during a game

“Really just not getting complacent,” Joey Porter Jr. said on how he stays locked in despite not seeing many targets his way. “My junior year I felt that I got a little bit complacent toward the back end. That was something I told myself I just couldn’t do — I couldn’t just let myself have any lazy plays out there, I couldn’t make myself look like I’m loafing. That was a big part of what Manny Diaz [helped with] — he kept me accountable for that, and I held myself accountable.”

Porter on how he uses his size on the field

“I got long arms and I’m gonna show you, I’m gonna press you, I’m gonna hit you in your chest,” Porter said.

Joey Porter Jr. on how much pressure he felt coming from an NFL family

“A little bit,” Porter said. “When I was growing up as a kid, when I played sports, a lot of people were like, ‘you gotta be like your dad, you gotta play linebacker,’ and everything like that. At a young age [his dad] told me ‘just be you no matter what. They’re gonna make comparisons, I want you to be better than me when you grow up,’ and he really meant that, so for me growing up I really didn’t think too much about it. The pressure really wasn’t that much anymore because me and him had that understanding, and it was pretty good after that.”

Porter on why he is the No. 1 cornerback in this year’s NFL Draft

“I feel like do everything well,” Joey Porter Jr. said about his abilities as a cornerback. “you’re gonna get a competitor out of me, I’m not going to shy away from the big moments, that’s what I look for. I’m just here to do my job and do it well.”

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