Penn State football cornerback announces intent to return for 2022
Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. announced on Saturday his intent to return for the 2022 season.
Porter served as one of Penn State’s two starting cornerbacks in 2021.
He completed the regular season with 38 total tackles, four pass breakups and an interception.
Pro Football Focus gave Porter a 67.9 overall defensive grade during the regular season.
With Tariq Castro-Fields moving on, Porter’s announcement allows Penn State to retain some key experience at the corner position next season.
“Playing for Penn State University these past 3 seasons has been a gift and an honor,” Porter wrote on Instagram. “I am grateful to play alongside some of the best players in the country!
“At this time in my life, staying in college and completing my college degree is important to me and my family. After much prayer, and discussion with my parents, I have decided to return to Penn State University.
“This decision was not easy to make. Playing in the NFL has been my lifelong goal and dream, but right now I think it’s important for me to finish what I started alongside my brothers and coaches at Penn State.”
Penn State lands transfer WR
Penn State landed one of its most coveted prospects in the transfer portal Friday in wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley.
Formerly a junior college prospect at Hutchinson Community College, Tinsley has one year remaining of eligibility. He spent two at Hutchinson before moving on to Western Kentucky in 2020.
Tinsley had immediate success for the Hilltoppers, totaling 43 receptions for 377 yards and four touchdowns last season, but that was nothing compared to what he did in 2021. In addition to doubling his receptions with 87, Tinsley totaled 1,402 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns. He averaged an eye-catching 16.1 yards per catch playing with quarterback Bailey Zappe.
Zappe was in the news this past week for setting an NCAA record 62 touchdown passes this season, beating Joe Burrow’s record from two years ago. That record-setting catch was caught by Tinsley, who played in Western Kentucky’s 59-38 win over Appalachian State in the Boca Raton Bowl last Saturday. Tinsley finished that game with seven receptions, 103 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
According to Pro Football Focus, Tinsley earned an overall offensive grade of 79.0 this season. He earned an 86.5 against Rice in Week 11, his best of the season. He totaled 10 receptions for 198 yards and two touchdowns in that game. Six of Tinsley’s final seven games at Western Kentucky earned a grade in the 70s or 80s.
The addition of Tinsley is a major boast to Penn State’s wide receiver corps for 2022. With Jahan Dotson almost certainly headed to the NFL, Penn State needed proven playmakers for next season. Parker Washington (57 receptions, 722 yards) and KeAndre Lambert-Smith (31 receptions, 447 yards) both have proven that they can make plays at this level, but aside from them, the wide receiver room is largely unproven.
