Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback, Joey Porter Jr. bided his time learning on and off the field during his rookie season in 2023 until Week 8 when he was thrust into the starting lineup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He grabbed a hold of the starting job from there, not letting it go for the rest of the season. Porter leaned on veteran Patrick Peterson for guidance and developed a strong bond with safety Damontae Kazee that helped him get acclimated with the pro game. Porter has been an important sounding board for University of Pittsburgh cornerback, M.J. Devonshire, as he navigated his collegiate career and now as he starts his journey to the NFL.
Porter grew up in Pittsburgh while his father was starring as an outside linebacker with the Steelers. He attended high school at North Catholic in Cranberry and North Allegheny in Wexford. He crossed paths with the Panthers defensive back during his youth football days. Devonshire told Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Steelers writer, Brian Batko on his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, that the two grew up playing seven-on-seven football together as kids and developed a strong connection. He hasn't put too much stock into what team is going to select him in April, but it would be special for him to be able to stay in his hometown.
"I try not to think about where I'm going to be because the uncertainty makes me a little nervous," Devonshire explained. "It definitely would be cool to play alongside him [Porter] for sure."
The former high school standout at Aliquippa spent two seasons at the University of Kentucky, playing in 12 games over two seasons before he transferred to Pitt for the 2021 season. He had almost committed to his hometown school after his senior season in 2018. He collected eight interceptions, with three returned for touchdowns in three seasons, playing 51 games for the Panthers.
The Steelers need another cornerback to pair with Porter in the defensive backfield, and the self-described "true shutdown corner" could be worth a flier in the draft to add to the mix. Pittsburgh has a pair of young corners in Darius Rush and Cory Trice Jr., who might also compete for the job opposite Porter, barring a significant free agent addition.
As the Steelers share a facility with the Pitt Panthers, the team has likely had an adequate opportunity to get a good look at Devonshire, even informally. Pittsburgh and the rest of the NFL will get a chance to see Devonshire compete in drills at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis as he tries to follow in the footsteps of Ty Law and Darrelle Revis, a pair of Pro Football Hall of Famers who attended Aliquippa.
Steelers' Porter "A Big Resource" For Devonshire
Devonshire said that even when Porter was still in college at Penn State, he was texting him for advice. During his prep for the NFL Draft in his final college season, Devonshire leaned even harder on his friend, who was already in the league.
The two are only three months apart in age, with Porter being born on July 26, 2000, and Devonshire being born on September 12 of the same year. Even so, Porter has been a major mentor for Devonshire.
"I'd text him from time to time, and I'd ask questions," Devonshire admitted. "Even when I was in college going through my last year and when he was in college, we talked from time to time. I use him as a big resource."
The Steelers haven't taken a University of Pittsburgh cornerback since 2000, when they drafted Hank Poteat. He was used mainly as a returner in Pittsburgh before he left and got more opportunities on defense elsewhere. Devonshire has returning skills also, but prides himself on being a cornerback.
Do you like the idea of the Steelers taking a flier on Devonshire?
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