Justin Shorter

Justin D. Shorter Bio

Justin D. Shorter (born April 17, 2000) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Florida Gators before entering the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick in 2023. Shorter was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 150th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and later joined the Las Vegas Raiders organization.

Early Life and Background

Justin D. Shorter was born on April 17, 2000, in Princeton, New Jersey. He grew up in the Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick, New Jersey, where he developed his passion for football at a young age. Shorter attended South Brunswick High School in South Brunswick, New Jersey, where he established himself as a notable prep athlete playing wide receiver.

Path to American Football

After excelling at South Brunswick High School, Shorter earned a scholarship to play college football at the NCAA Division I level. He initially committed to Penn State University, joining the Nittany Lions program in 2018. His journey through college football would later include a transfer to the University of Florida, where he continued his development as a wide receiver before pursuing professional opportunities.

Justin D. Shorter Career

College Career at Penn State (2018–2019)

Justin D. Shorter began his college football career at Penn State University in 2018. He played in four games as a true freshman and caught three passes for 20 yards before redshirting the season. The following year, as a redshirt freshman in 2019, Shorter recorded 12 receptions for 137 yards over ten games before entering the NCAA transfer portal.

College Career at Florida (2020–2022)

Shorter transferred to the University of Florida and was granted immediate eligibility to play for the Gators after receiving a waiver from the NCAA. In his first season with Florida in 2020, he caught 25 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. As a redshirt junior, Shorter improved his production with 41 receptions for 550 yards and three touchdowns. During his redshirt senior season, he recorded 29 catches for 577 yards and two touchdowns. After the 2022 regular season, Shorter announced he would forgo playing in the 2022 Las Vegas Bowl and declared for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Buffalo Bills (2023)

Shorter was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round, 150th overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft. He joined an organization with strong Super Bowl aspirations but faced an early setback when he was placed on injured reserve on August 30, 2023. This injury limited his rookie season contributions as he worked to recover and establish himself at the professional level.

Las Vegas Raiders (2024–Present)

Shorter was released by the Buffalo Bills as part of final roster cuts on August 27, 2024. He quickly found a new opportunity when the Las Vegas Raiders signed him to their practice squad on August 29, 2024. Shorter demonstrated enough promise during his time on the practice squad to earn a promotion to the active roster on November 1, 2024. This move reflected the Raiders’ confidence in his abilities and provided him with regular-season NFL experience. Shorter continued working to establish himself within the Raiders’ offensive plans as he progressed through the 2025 season.

Playing Style and Strengths

Justin D. Shorter stands at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 meters) and weighs 227 pounds (103 kilograms), giving him the size advantage that NFL teams seek in a boundary receiver. His frame allows him to compete effectively for jump balls and make contested catches in traffic. Shorter’s combination of height and length makes him particularly valuable in red-zone situations and on deep-passing downs where his catch radius becomes a significant asset.

Notable Events and Milestones

Among Shorter’s career milestones, his selection in the 2023 NFL Draft marked his entry into professional football. The transition from college to the NFL presented challenges, including his time on injured reserve with Buffalo, but his persistence led to opportunities with Las Vegas. Being promoted from the Raiders’ practice squad to the active roster demonstrated his ability to continue developing at the professional level.

Justin D. Shorter Career Statistics

Justin D. Shorter has appeared in 17 NFL games throughout his professional career. He has recorded 3 tackles during his time in the league. In college, Shorter showed consistent improvement over his final two seasons at Florida, accumulating 70 receptions for 1,127 yards and 5 touchdowns across his redshirt junior and redshirt senior campaigns.

Career NFL Statistics

College Career Statistics

Family

Personal Life

Justin D. Shorter maintains a presence on social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where he engages with fans under the handles @jshortz10 and @jshortz_6 respectively. Shorter continues to reside in Nevada while with the Raiders organization. Public information regarding his family background, marital status, or children is not currently available.