Justin Shorter, WR Florida: Offseason 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Shorter was a five-star recruit from South Brunswick High School in Monmouth Junction, N.J. in the class of 2018

A former five-star recruit and one of Anthony Richardson’s top targets, Florida wide receiver Justin Shorter possesses a large frame and long arms. His size could draw the attention of NFL teams in the 2023 NFL Draft.

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Justin Shorter, WR Florida: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt junior outside receiver from Monmouth Junction, N.J.

Background: Shorter was a five-star recruit from South Brunswick High School in Monmouth Junction, N.J. in the class of 2018. He was the No. 8 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 18 for Rivals, and No. 7 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 8th in the nation with a 91 grade out of 100. As a high school senior, Shorter led his team to a 12-1 record and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Group 5 State Championship. He also won a state title with South Brunswick in 2015. In 2017, Shorter produced 36 receptions for 522 yards and seven touchdowns along with 32 carries for 322 rushing yards and four touchdowns. As a high school junior, he totaled 45 receptions for 718 yards and six touchdowns. His sophomore season included 31 receptions for 582 yards and eight scores. Shorter also played some defense, finishing his high school career with seven interceptions. He also participated in track and field. Shorter was selected to the Under Armour All-America Game. He earned his bachelor's degree in Education Sciences in the spring of 2022. Shorter transferred from Penn State to Florida ahead of the 2020 season.

2021 Production: 13 games, 41 receptions, 550 yards, 3 touchdowns

2020 Production: 12 games, 25 receptions, 268 yards, 3 touchdowns

2019 Production: 10 games, 12 receptions, 137 yards

2018 Production: 4 games, 3 receptions, 20 yards (Redshirt Year)

Injuries & Off-Field: Carted off the field against UCF (2021)

Awards: 2020 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll, 2021 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll

Pros: Eliminated drops in 2021, special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, and punt coverage units, quick footwork when faced with press coverage, large imposing frame with long arms, significant improvement in ball tracking skills from 2020 to 2021, out-muscles defenders in press coverage which sometimes leads to him gaining an advantage downfield, quick cuts on short routes thanks to his footwork, offers some build up speed

Cons: Age, doesn’t play to his size in contested catch situations, three penalties committed between 2020 and 2021, doesn’t take proper angles and lacks aggression as a blocker, struggles to create separation against man coverage, lacks the speed to stack defensive backs, big target for defenders in press coverage, ball tracking led to drops in the past, almost no production in 2021 20+ yards downfield, not a high-effort blocker, doesn’t sustain blocks, burst off the line doesn’t scare defenders, primarily a linear athlete, intermediate routes are rounded instead of snapped off, doesn’t expand his catch radius, doesn’t use his long arms when battling press

Overview: Shorter is unofficially listed at 6'4", 223 lbs. The New Jersey native showed improvement from 2020 to 2021. He eliminated drops from his game and displayed better ball tracking, which previously caused several drops in Florida’s 2020 bowl game against Oklahoma. Shorter is an experienced special teams player, and he’ll need to maximize his impact on those reps to stick on an NFL roster. The redshirt junior displays quick footwork when facing press coverage, which often leads to him getting past the defensive back. Shorter should focus on using his large frame and long arms to be more physically imposing in these situations, activating his upper body instead of just relying on his footwork. He’s strong enough to absorb and battle through press coverage. Shorter displays quick cuts on short routes that generate open targets for his quarterback thanks to his foot speed. He offers some build-up speed to threaten defenses vertically. Unfortunately, Shorter lacks high-end change of direction skills and struggles to generate separation against man coverage. He’s also easy for defenders to stick with in zone coverages. Shorter lacks the speed and burst to consistently stack defenders vertically. He presents a large target for physical corners in press coverage. Shorter has the physical tools to be a powerful blocker, but he takes poor angles to defenders and lacks the aggression and effort to sustain blocks. His intermediate routes are rounded instead of snappy. Shorter often waits for the ball to come to him instead of playing to his arm length and expanding his catch radius. This leads to him winning fewer than fifty percent of his contested catch attempts despite having height and length advantages.

Overall, Shorter is a tall, well-built late day three selection who could go undrafted because of his inability to create separation and lack of quick-twitch speed. The former five-star recruit has the physical tools to dominate contested catch situations and serve as a quality blocker, but he’s failed to capitalize on his opportunities.  

Role & Scheme Fit: X or Z receiver in an 11 personnel heavy scheme

Round Projection: Early Seventh to UDFA

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 09-20-22