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Penn State wide receiver Justin Shorter (6) attempts to catch a pass as Pittsburgh defensive back Jazzee Stocker (7) defends in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019.
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Reports: Penn State WR Justin Shorter enters the transfer portal

AP

Reports: Penn State WR Justin Shorter enters the transfer portal

Penn State wide receiver Justin Shorter has entered the transfer portal, as first reported by Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports.

The news dropped while coach James Franklin was hosting his weekly news conference. Franklin said he was aware of the situation and has had conversations with and about Shorter. He declined to get into specifics but said he’s “not sure where we’re at.”

Shorter, a freshman from Monmouth Junction, N.J., was a five-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 1 recruit from his state, according to Rivals. He was the No. 18 recruit in the country and the No. 3 WR recruit in the country for the 2018 class. 

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With those accolades, Shorter was expected to make a big impact on the Nittany Lions’ season, especially with some other departures leaving the cupboard a bit bare at his position. 

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Shorter never really found his footing, though, in terms of having consistent success on the field. In the 10 games in which Shorter played, he caught just 12 passes for 137 yards and failed to find the end zone. 

Against Minnesota last month, when Penn State lost, 31-26, Shorter had more opportunities than he had previously, but he failed to come down with a few key chances. 

With all that being said, Shorter’s potential departure would still be a big loss. That’s especially the case with star wideout KJ Hamler potentially leaving University Park to enter the NFL draft after the season. 

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If Hamler does leave and Shorter transfers, that leaves the Nittany Lions with Jahan Dotson as the only returning starter at wideout. Plus, Shorter still possesses all the physical gifts that made him such a tantalizing prospect coming out of high school. 

Whether Shorter is able to realize his potential remains to be seen. And now, whether he does so at Penn State or elsewhere is another question entirely.

First Published: November 26, 2019, 6:55 p.m.

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