UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State redshirt junior cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was tabbed National Player of the Week by the Bednarik Award on Tuesday. Porter led the Nittany Lions with eight tackles and six pass breakups in Penn State's 35-31 win at Purdue.
Porter is a member of the Bednarik Award watch list. The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.
Joey Porter, Jr. · R-Jr. · CB · 6-2 · 198 · Bakersfield, Calif. · North Allegheny (Pa.)
- Recorded a team-high eight tackles, all solo, against Purdue.
- In the second quarter, recovered a fumble for his first career fumble recovery.
- Tallied a career-high six pass breakups.
- Porter's six pass breakups vs. the Boilermakers set a school record and tied a Big Ten record for a single game with Michigan's Jourdan Lewis (vs. Michigan State, 2015) and Minnesota's Michael Carter (vs. Purdue, 2012).
- The six pass breakups are tied for the most in a single game for an FBS player since Houston's William Jackson III had seven against Temple in 2015.
- According to Pro Football Focus, Porter's six forced incompletions are tied for the most in a game by a Power Five cornerback since 2014.
- Is a member of the Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and went on to be an All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame as a full-time player on offense and defense.
The Chuck Bednarik Award will announce its semifinalists on November 1 and its three finalists will be unveiled on November 22. The winner of the 28th Bednarik Award will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards. The formal presentation of the award will be made at the 86th Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala in Atlantic, City, N.J. on March 10, 2023.
The Nittany Lions make their return to Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10 vs. Ohio, a noon ET start on ABC.
The 2022 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.