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PSU’s Porter opts out of bowl game; declares for NFL Draft

Joey Porter’s career at Penn State has ended.

The Nittany Lions’ standout cornerback confirmed Wednesday he will bypass PSU’s upcoming bowl game in order to focus on NFL preparation.

Porter, the son of former Steeler star linebacker Joey Porter, was named first-team all-Big Ten on Tuesday.

He finished the season with 20 pass breakups, including six in the Lions’ opening game against Purdue, which set a PSU and Big Ten single-game record.

The 6-foot-2, 194-pounder Porter was a three year-starter who had one season of eligibility remaining.

Via Twitter, Porter thanked “every member of the Penn State community,” along with his family.

He said his mother provided “love and guidance,” and he thanked his dad for “introducing me to the game I love and pushing me to be my best.”

“From one dream to the next, I am excited to continue this next chapter,” he tweeted.

Porter is projected to be a first-round draft pick.

Coming up roses?

Several national bowl trackers are linking the Nittany Lions to the Jan. 2 Rose Bowl.

That can happen a couple of different ways.

Ohio State is ranked No. 5 in the College Football Playoff and could land in the CFP with a loss by one of the conference finalists (Michigan, TCU or Southern Cal). Georgia, the SEC champion, seems to be a lock for the CFP even if the Bulldogs are upset by LSU on Saturday.

If OSU is left out of the CFP semifinals, the Buckeyes could be trending toward the Orange Bowl, where they’d play Clemson. Ohio State played in the Rose Bowl last year, which may be a factor.

That would open the Rose Bowl for Penn State, against either USC (should the Trojans lose to Utah in the Pac-12 title game) or perhaps Washington, which is led by former Indiana transfer quarterback Michael Penix.

Last week, Penn State appeared to be ticketed to the Cotton Bowl against the winner of the American Athletic Conference, either Tulane or UCF.

Singleton honored

Penn State tailback Nick Singleton was named Big Ten freshman of the year on Wednesday.

Singleton, who rushed for 941 yards, also gained third-team honors.

Other Lions recognized were tackle Olu Fashanu (second team), center Juice Scruggs (third team) and tight end Brenton Strange (third team).

Quarterback Sean Clifford, running back Kaytron Allen, wide receiver Parker Washington and offensive linemen Bryce Effner, Hunter Nourzad and Sal Wormley received honorable mention status.

Ohio State quarterback C.J Stroud was the league’s offensive player of the year, and Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh was named coach of the year.

The defensive awards were announced Tuesday.

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