UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State football cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (2nd round, 32nd overall, Pittsburgh Steelers), tight end Brenton Strange (2nd round, 61st overall, Jacksonville Jaguars), offensive lineman Juice Scruggs (2nd round, 62nd overall, Houston Texans) and safety Ji'Ayir Brown (3rd round, 87th overall, San Francisco 49ers) were selected on day two of the 2023 NFL Draft on Friday night.
With three selections of Porter, Strange and Scruggs in the second round, it marked the first time in school history Penn State has had three-straight years with three or more selections in the first two rounds.
Penn State is one of three schools that has had a player selected among the first three rounds of the NFL Draft in 18-straight years, joining USC and LSU.
With Strange and Scruggs selected with consecutive picks, it marked the sixth year Penn State has had players selected with back-to-back picks. The previous occasions were Charlie Sieminski (4th round, 46th overall, San Francisco 49ers) and Roger Kochman (4th round, 47th overall, St. Louis Cardinals) in 1962, Pete Kugler (6th round, 147th overall, San Francisco 49ers) and Larry Kubin (6th round, 148th overall, Washington Redskins) in 1981, Tim Manoa (3rd round, 80th overall, Cleveland Browns) and Steve Smith (3rd round, 81st overall, Los Angeles Raiders) in 1987, Frank Giannetti (10th round, 263rd overall, Indanapolis Colts) and Sean Love (10th round, 264th overall, Dallas Cowboys) in 1991, Courtney Brown (1st round, 1st overall, Cleveland Browns) and LaVar Arrington (1st round, 2nd overall, Washington Redskins) in 2000 and Shaka Toney (7th round, 246th overall, Washington Commanders), Michal Menet (7th round, 247th overall, Arizona Cardinals) and Will Fries (7th round, 248th overall, Indianapolis Colts) in 2021.
With the selections of Brown and Porter, Penn State had multiple defensive backs selected in the same draft for the third time under James Franklin. The two previous occasions were Troy Apke (4th round, 109th overall, Washington Redskins), Marcus Allen (5th round, 148th overall, Pittsburgh Steelers) and Christian Campbell (6th round, 182nd overall, Arizona Cardinals) in 2018 and Jaquan Brisker (2nd round, 48th overall, Chicago Bears) and Tariq Castro-Fields (6th round, 221st overall, San Francisco 49ers) in 2022.
Through three rounds, Penn State now has a total of 35 players who have been drafted in the last six NFL drafts, the most in a six-year span for the program since 1992-97 (39 picks).
A total of 379 Nittany Lions have been selected all-time in the NFL Draft, which ranks seventh among Division I institutions. Penn State has had 44 players selected since James Franklin's arrival to the program in 2015, including 21 taken on the first two days of the draft.
Joey Porter Jr.
Porter became the highest-selected Penn State defensive back to ever be drafted. The previous highest defensive back selections were Jaquan Brisker (2nd round, 48th overall, Chicago Bears) in 2022 and Les Walters (4th round, 48th overall, Baltimore Colts) in 1958. A total of nine defensive backs have been drafted in the James Franklin era as Porter becomes the 34th overall PSU defensive back to be selected in the draft.
Porter is the 29th Nittany Lion selected by the Steelers all-time and the first since Pat Freiermuth (2nd round, 55th overall) in 2021.
He joins Freiermuth, Dan Chisena and Allen Robinson II as former Nittany Lions in the Steelers organization.
"We are so proud of Joey for being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers," said head coach James Franklin. "He will be a great fit for the Steelers organization. With an impressive combination of length, athleticism and speed, Joey has all the tools to be a dominant cornerback at the next level. Joey will learn and grow quickly into a very productive player for the Steelers. Joey played at an elite level which led to him being an All-American. He is a smart football player who made some huge plays in key moments of big games for us. We have been extremely fortunate to have a player like Joey represent our program and we wish him nothing but the best in the NFL."
"It has been a pleasure to coach Joey, and I am so proud of him for being Penn State's highest-ever defensive back selected in the NFL Draft," said associate head coach and cornerbacks coach Terry M. Smith. "The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting a talented, mature and coachable football player. Joey is a guy who wanted to be the best at his position, and it showed. He was constantly in the weight room, getting the extra reps after practice and having a presence in the position meeting room. Everything he has accomplished has been earned, and he still has a ton more he wants to prove. He will go down as one of the best cornerbacks to ever play at Penn State. I wish him nothing but the best in his NFL career."
Joey Porter Jr. · CB · 6-2 · 194 · Bakersfield, Calif. · North Allegheny (Pa.)
- Garnered AFCA, Associated Press, CBS Sports, FWAA and Walter Camp All-America second team honors.
- Named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media.
- Porter played in 34 career games with the Nittany Lions and made 30 starts.
- Was a third-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches in 2021 and by the media in 2020.
- Collected 114 tackles (87 solo), two tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception and 20 pass breakups as a Nittany Lion.
- He was a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award and Jim Thorpe Award.
- In man coverage in 2022, Porter allowed just 9 catches in 26 targets (34.6%) and 70 yards.
- Porter allowed a 42.3 completion percentage when targeted in 2022.
- Porter Jr. was tied for 32nd in the nation with 11 pass breakups.
- Porter tallied a career-high six pass breakups against Purdue, earning Bednarik Award National Player of the Week honors.
- Porter's six pass breakups vs. the Boilermakers set a school record and tied a then-Big Ten single-game record.
- Porter's six pass breakups were tied for the second-most in an FBS game last season.
- He made a team-high eight tackles and recovered a fumble against the Boilermakers.
- He recorded five tackles and three pass breakups vs. Central Michigan.
- Porter had one pass breakup in each game against Northwestern and Minnesota.
Brenton Strange
Strange became Penn State's 21st tight end selected in the NFL Draft and the fourth tight end selected in the James Franklin era, joining Jesse James (5th round, 160th overall, Pittsburgh Steelers) in 2015, Mike Gesicki (2nd round, 42nd overall, Miami Dolphins) in 2018 and Pat Freiermuth (2nd round, 55th overall, Pittsburgh Steelers) in 2021.
Strange is the third Nittany Lion selected all-time by the Jacksonville Jaguars, joining James Boyd (3rd round, 94th overall) in 2001 and Allen Robinson II (2nd round, 61st overall) in 2014.
"We are excited for Brenton to continue his football career with the Jacksonville Jaguars," said head coach James Franklin. "I am confident Brenton will make a seamless transition into the NFL and bring with him the toughness, physicality and maturity he showed while here. His ability to make plays in the passing game and be physical in the run game will be valuable for the Jaguars organization. He is a student of the game who understands that success on the field is a direct result of the hard work and dedication he puts in off the field. I am excited for Brenton's future at the next level and wish him continued success for many years to come."
"It has been a privilege for me to coach a tremendous player, but more importantly, a tremendous person in Brenton Strange," said co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Ty Howle. "I am incredibly excited for this opportunity he is getting with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Brenton is the complete package as a tight end with his ability to block, run routes and make plays in the passing game and protect. He invested an incredible amount of time and effort into becoming a better player every day and made an impact on every member of our tight end room and their development. I am looking forward to following his NFL career."
Brenton Strange · TE · 6-3 · 247 · Parkersburg, W. Va. · Parkersburg
- Tabbed a 2022 All-Big Ten third team honoree by the coaches and honorable mention by the media.
- Named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media in 2021.
- Named to the Mackey Award watch list twice in 2021 and 2022.
- Started 13 games at tight end in 2022, posting 32 receptions for 362 yards and five touchdowns.
- Named the coaching staff's Offensive Player of the Game following Northwestern (10/1/22).
- Recorded two receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown in the win at Purdue (9/1/22).
- Hauled in a 67-yard touchdown reception from Sean Clifford late in the second quarter against the Boilermakers, the longest reception of his career.
- Recorded a team- and career-high six catches for 80 yards in the win at Auburn (9/17), including 59 yards after the catch.
- Hauled in five receptions for 42 yards and a career-best two touchdowns in the victory over Central Michigan (9/24/22).
- Caught a 20-yard touchdown in the first quarter in the win over Northwestern (10/5).
- Caught three passes for 34 yards and a score in the Maryland win (11/12).
Juice Scruggs
Scruggs is Penn State's 56th offensive lineman, and its 11th center, selected in the NFL Draft. He is the sixth offensive lineman selected in the James Franklin era.
The Nittany Lions have had an offensive lineman selected in four of the last five NFL Drafts, including Connor McGovern (3rd round, 90th overall, Dallas Cowboys) in 2019, Michal Menet (7th round, 247th overall, Arizona Cardinals) and Will Fries (7th round, 248th overall, Indianapolis Colts) in 2021 and Rasheed Walker (7th round, 249th overall, Green Bay Packers) in 2022.
Scruggs is the second Nittany Lion selected all-time by the Houston Texans, joining John Reid (4th round, 141st overall) in 2020.
"Juice is a special player and extremely deserving of this opportunity with the Houston Texans," said head coach James Franklin. "He embodies toughness and resilience. Juice battled through adversity and grew into a leader and anchor for our offensive line. He was determined and committed to leading the offensive line's growth. Juice played at a high level this past season and took immense pride in the success of the entire room. We appreciate Juice's commitment to our program and wish him nothing but the best in what will be a very successful NFL career."
"Congratulations to Juice on having this dream come true," said offensive line coach Phil Trautwein. "He is going to be a tremendous asset to the Houston Texans organization. Juice was a great leader for our offensive line and our football team, hence why he was a team captain this past season. He became a very good vocal leader but what impressed me the most was his ability to lead by example and take on a professional approach to his preparation. He did such a great job of making sure our unit was in sync at all times and it was pivotal to our offense's success this year. I believe he is going to be a great offensive lineman in the NFL and I can't wait to see him get to work."
Juice Scruggs · OL · 6-3 · 310 · Ashtabula, Ohio · Cathedral Prep (Pa.)
- Appeared in 34 career games at Penn State, making 26 starts.
- Selected All-Big Ten third team by the coaches in 2022 honorable mention by the media.
- Named to the Rimington Trophy watch list in 2022.
- Started 13 games at center in 2022 and was voted a team captain.
- Named the coaching staff's Offensive Player of the Game following Auburn (9/17/22).
- Assisted the Nittany Lion offense in netting 477 yards of offense in the road victory over the Tigers, which included 245 yards rushing and five rushing scores.
- Helped the offense put up 482 total yards, including 371 passing yards from Sean Clifford against Ohio State (10/29/22).
- Assisted the Nittany Lion running backs to record four rushing touchdowns on the day in the win at Indiana (11/5). Paved the way for the offense to put up 483 total yards.
- Contributed to an offensive attack against Utah (1/2/23) which became the first team in Rose Bowl history to have an 80+ yard rushing touchdown and 80+ yard receiving touchdown in the same game.
- The Nittany Lions logged 448 total yards in the win over the Utes, it's seventh-straight 400+ yard game.
- Named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media in 2021 and earned Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten third team honors.
- Was named the team's Dick Maginnis Memorial Award winner in 2021, recognizing the most outstanding offensive lineman.
Ji'Ayir Brown
Brown became the 35th Penn State defensive back to be selected in the NFL Draft and the 10th defensive back selected in the James Franklin era.
Brown is the 15th Nittany Lion selected all-time by the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers selected Tariq Castro-Fields (6th round, 221st overall) in 2022.
He joins Kevin Givens as Nittany Lions in the 49ers organization.
"The San Francisco 49ers gained a tremendous athlete, teammate and leader," said head coach James Franklin. "He is a special player because of his drive, competitiveness and willingness to sacrifice. Tig not only took advantage of every opportunity presented to him, but he learned and grew from every opportunity as well. He consistently put himself in positions to make big plays, finishing his career having a hand in 16 takeaways as a Nittany Lion. Tig led the locker room by example and was well respected by his teammates and staff. We have really enjoyed watching Tig develop as a player, leader and man since he joined our program. I couldn't be happier for him, and I look forward to watching him continue to grow as a player at the next level."
"I am so proud for Ji'Ayir earning this chance to continue his dream of playing in the NFL," said co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter. "The San Francisco 49ers are getting a special player who will bring infectious energy and leadership to their organization. I do not know if I have been around a person like him before. Tig is a guy who just loves playing the game of football and you can see that with the passion he brought into our building each day. The way he goes about his business is at an extremely professional level. He is ready for this next opportunity, and I wish him the best in his NFL career."
Ji'Ayir Brown · S · 5-11 · 202 · Trenton, N.J. · Trenton Central · Lackawanna College
- Selected third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media in 2022.
- Named Penn State's 2022 team MVP and winner of the Iron Lion Award.
- Had a hand in 16 career takeaways as a Nittany Lion (10 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries, 3 forced fumbles).
- Finished with 10 career interceptions at Penn State, good for a tie for 12th in program history.
- Posted 234 career interception return yards, the second-most at Penn State since 2000.
- Tallied six interceptions in 2021, which tied for the nation's lead, and were the most by a Penn State player since Anthony Scirrotto also had six in 2006.
- In 2021, became the first Nittany Lion with six interceptions and two fumble recoveries in a season since Alan Zemaitis in 2005 (six interceptions, two fumble recoveries).
- Was a team captain and started 13 games at safety in 2022 and posted 74 tackles (56 solo) with seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, three pass breakups and five quarterback hurries.
- Named the 2023 Rose Bowl Game Defensive MVP (Utah, 1/2).
- Tabbed Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Auburn, 9/17).
- Tallied two interceptions vs. Arkansas in the 2022 Outback Bowl (1/1/22), tying a Penn State bowl record.
The Nittany Lions return 43 lettermen for the 2023 season. Penn State opens the 2023 campaign against West Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 2.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2023 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
More than 2,700 new season tickets have already been sold for the 2023 campaign.