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From the WPIAL to State College to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Joey Porter Jr. is staying in Pennsylvania to recognize his football dreams.The Steelers went for defense in Round 2 of the NFL draft on Friday night, selecting Porter, a cornerback from Penn State, with the 32nd overall pick, and Wisconsin defensive tackle Keeanu Benton at No. 49 overall.”This is the perfect way to end my day right here,” said Porter, who wasn’t too far from the Steelers facility when his phone rang. “I just forgot all about (Thursday) night. And I’m ready. And I got a chip on my shoulder. I’m trying to prove myself.”Steelers draft board: Full list of Pittsburgh’s 2023 draft selectionsThe 6-foot-2, 195-pound Porter played at North Catholic and North Allegheny high schools before moving on to Penn State, where he was a first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American selection.”He’s got a lot of great attributes: size, length, competitive, tough,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said.Austin pointed out there will be no “redshirt” for Porter, who joins a secondary in need of an influx of youth and talent. Pittsburgh led the NFL in interceptions in 2022 with 20, but also gave up 29 touchdown passes. Only four teams allowed more.Porter’s father, Joey, was a third-round draft pick by the Steelers in 1999. He played eight seasons in Pittsburgh and was a member of the Super Bowl XL championship team, later returning to the sidelines as an outside linebackers coach.The Porter Jr. pick was announced by Alan Faneca, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who also played on that Super Bowl team with his father.So, Friday night was a feel-good story. But Porter Jr. knows it will soon be time to get to work.”At the end of the day, it’s business,” he said. “So every time I walk in here, we’ve got a true to life business. And I’m all about that. And I’m ready.”At 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, Benton adds some bulk to Pittsburgh’s defensive line. He had nine sacks, 80 tackles and one forced fumble in four seasons at Wisconsin, with 4.5 sacks and 36 tackles as a senior last year. In Round 1, Pittsburgh traded up to get offensive tackle Broderick Jones from Georgia on Thursday night.Pittsburgh selected another Georgia player in Round 3, trading down to number 93 to get 6-foot-7 tight end Darnell Washington. The Steelers sent the 80th pick to Carolina in exchange for the 93rd and a fourth-round selection (132nd overall).The draft wraps up on Saturday, with the Steelers currently holding three picks: one in Round 4 and two in Round 7.The Associated Press contributed to this article.
From the WPIAL to State College to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Joey Porter Jr. is staying in Pennsylvania to recognize his football dreams.
The Steelers went for defense in Round 2 of the NFL draft on Friday night, selecting Porter, a cornerback from Penn State, with the 32nd overall pick, and Wisconsin defensive tackle Keeanu Benton at No. 49 overall.
“This is the perfect way to end my day right here,” said Porter, who wasn’t too far from the Steelers facility when his phone rang. “I just forgot all about (Thursday) night. And I’m ready. And I got a chip on my shoulder. I’m trying to prove myself.”
Steelers draft board: Full list of Pittsburgh’s 2023 draft selections
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The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Porter played at North Catholic and North Allegheny high schools before moving on to Penn State, where he was a first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American selection.
“He’s got a lot of great attributes: size, length, competitive, tough,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said.
Austin pointed out there will be no “redshirt” for Porter, who joins a secondary in need of an influx of youth and talent. Pittsburgh led the NFL in interceptions in 2022 with 20, but also gave up 29 touchdown passes. Only four teams allowed more.
Porter’s father, Joey, was a third-round draft pick by the Steelers in 1999. He played eight seasons in Pittsburgh and was a member of the Super Bowl XL championship team, later returning to the sidelines as an outside linebackers coach.
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
The Porter Jr. pick was announced by Alan Faneca, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who also played on that Super Bowl team with his father.
So, Friday night was a feel-good story. But Porter Jr. knows it will soon be time to get to work.
“At the end of the day, it’s business,” he said. “So every time I walk in here, we’ve got a true to life business. And I’m all about that. And I’m ready.”
At 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, Benton adds some bulk to Pittsburgh’s defensive line. He had nine sacks, 80 tackles and one forced fumble in four seasons at Wisconsin, with 4.5 sacks and 36 tackles as a senior last year.
In Round 1, Pittsburgh traded up to get offensive tackle Broderick Jones from Georgia on Thursday night.
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Pittsburgh selected another Georgia player in Round 3, trading down to number 93 to get 6-foot-7 tight end Darnell Washington. The Steelers sent the 80th pick to Carolina in exchange for the 93rd and a fourth-round selection (132nd overall).
The draft wraps up on Saturday, with the Steelers currently holding three picks: one in Round 4 and two in Round 7.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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