Gators 2023 NFL Draft Profile: WR Justin Shorter

Former Gators wideout Justin Shorter looks to lean on his deep ball production and impressive 6-foot-4 frame to earn an NFL Draft selection.

Photo: Justin Shorter; Credit: Alex Shepherd

The 2023 NFL Draft is approaching, marking the peak of the professional football offseason.

As NFL free agency cools down after the initial surge to fill spots of need, teams are solidifying their big boards for the eventful selection period set to take place from April 27-29.

Multiple University of Florida talents are in the midst of preparing for the draft process. Eight of the 11 entrants recently participated in the NFL Combine. They finalized their athletic metrics at the school's Pro Day on March 30.

In anticipation of the selection ceremony, All Gators will provide player draft profiles for the 11 Florida representatives. The series will include the player's history, strengths, weaknesses, scouting report, best fit and most up-to-date Gators-centric mock draft selection.

Following profiles for quarterback Anthony Richardson, offensive guard O'Cyrus Torrence and defensive lineman Gervon Dexter Sr., edge rusher Brenton Cox Jr., safety Trey Dean III, linebacker Ventrell Miller, safety Rashad Torrence II, linebacker Amari Burney, offensive tackle Richard Gouraige and wide receiver Jordan Pouncey, AG rounds out the pre-draft profile series with wide receiver Justin Shorter.

Player History

A product of Monmouth Junction (N.J.) South Brunswick in the class of 2018, Shorter originally signed with nearby Penn State as a consensus five-star recruit. 

He was considered the No. 1 wide receiver in the country by 247Sports at the time, the second-highest-rated member of the Nittany Lions' signing class that year behind now-Dallas Cowboys All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons. 

Presenting a 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame and 4.52-second 40-yard dash result upon enrollment, Shorter was widely assumed to make an immediate impact at Penn State.

The theory did not materialize. An injury limited Shorter to just four appearances as a freshman, and while he began the 2019 season in a starting role, his snaps were reduced throughout the year due to inconsistent play when awarded opportunities paired with another injury.

Shorter became one of the most notable names to enter the transfer portal in its year of existence in Nov. 2019. He caught just 15 passes for 157 yards wearing navy and white and intended to follow the path former Georgia quarterback Justin Fields forged a year prior, looking for greener pastures via collegiate free agency.

He committed to Florida in Jan. 2020 as a result.

Immediately taking on a rotational role with receivers Kadarius Toney and Trevon Grimes in UF's pass-happy offense with quarterback Kyle Trask at the helm, Shorter produced single-season highs with 25 receptions for 268 yards and three touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore.

Shorter went on to top his reception and yardage highs before concluding his UF career, spending his final two seasons with the Gators as a starter. And it's fair to wonder if inconsistency from the quarterback position after Trask's departure limited his production.

Shorter hauled in a career-best 41 receptions in 2021 with Emory Jones primarily throwing him the ball, resulting in 550 yards and another three scores. UF's passing offense regressed substantially without Trask and Shorter was limited to the role of possession receiver.

When Anthony Richardson took over as Florida's signal-caller in 2022, the deep-threat aspect of Shorter's game routinely showcased in high school was finally put on display at the college level. While he caught just 29 passes in nine games, limited by a hamstring wound at the end of the year, Shorter's 19.9 yards per reception shattered his previous personal record and nearly doubled his 10.7-mark set in 2020 with Trask.

He finished his time at Florida with 95 receptions for 1,395 yards (14.7 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns in 34 games and 21 starts.

Although Shorter never amounted to his five-star status from high school, he found a groove in Gainesville and offers NFL teams an intriguing pass-catching option in the upcoming draft.

Strengths

• Elite height and length profile at 6-foot-4 3/4 (88th percentile among WRs) with 33 3/4-inch arms (92nd percentile).
• Build allows Shorter to high-point passes, make plays in traffic and at the boundary.
• Physical receiver who can beat press coverage with his hands and make contested catches.
• Long speed: Once he gets going, Shorter can separate from defensive backs down the field. Candidate for go, post and deep corner routes at the next level.

Concerns

• Lack of route polish off of vertical stem. Footwork and fluidity could improve to sink into in-breaking routes.
• Average athlete: 4.55-second 40-yard dash (37th percentile), 1.59-second 10-yard split (33rd percentile), 35.5-inch vertical jump (50th percentile), 126-inch broad (80th percentile).
• Pushing 230 pounds, 96th percentile for wide receivers. Would speed and agility improve if he slimmed down?
• Struggled with drops at Penn State and in first year at Florida, but cut drops down to one in 2021 and zero in 2022.

Scouting Report

Shorter fits the mold of a traditional X-receiver, demanding one-on-one matchups near the boundary with the size, physicality and deep speed to win his fair share. His development into a more well-rounded route-runner and hands-catcher will factor greatly into his ability to emerge within an NFL offense, however, at least in more than a specialty role, likely as a rotational deep threat. 

Shorter will also need to pick special teams back up in order to hold onto a roster spot, as he won't be expected to earn significant offensive snaps at the beginning of his career. Shorter only tallied 22 special teams snaps in 2022 after combining for 237 between 2020-21, a former mainstay on Florida's kick and punt return and coverage units.

Teams are likely to be intrigued by Shorter's upside and ability to create explosive plays, which could lead to a day three selection after flashing promise during his college career. There are areas of his game in need of improvement before he could take on first-team duties in the pros, though. 

All Gators final mock draft selections

April 26: Round 6, Pick 205 — Buffalo Bills

March 20: Round 7, Pick 228 — Tennessee Titans 

Stay tuned to All Gators for continuous coverage of Florida Gators football, basketball and recruiting. Follow along on social media at @AllGatorsOnFN on Twitter and All Gators on FanNation-Sports Illustrated on Facebook.

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