Draft Coverage

Top five things to know about new Buffalo Bills WR Justin Shorter

Apr 29, 2023 at 02:52 PM

Chris Brown

Bills Insider/One Bills Live co-host

1) Sure handed

The Gators wide receiver proved himself as a reliable target in Florida's passing game over his final two seasons as a starter. Over the course of the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, Shorter had just one drop on 114 targets.

2) Downfield threat

Buffalo's fifth-round pick did not live up to his surname when it came to his performance on the field. Most of his receptions were deep downfield in his final season with the Gators. Evidence of that came in his eye-popping average of almost 20 yards per reception (19.9). That average was good for second most in the SEC. The SEC leader was his teammate Ryan Pearsall.

3) Position coach a former NFL receiver

Shorter's position coach at Florida is former NFL wide receiver Keary Colbert. Colbert was a former second-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 2004 NFL draft.

"It's definitely nice to be able to know that he's been there, he's been down that path," Shorter told GatorSports.com of Colbert. "So he can be someone that I can go to if I need help with anything or I have questions about that stuff."

4) A two-time prep champion

The Bills newest wideout experienced success early in his football career. After getting introduced to football in the eighth grade, Shorter was a cornerback and receiver at South Brunswick high school in New Jersey and helped his high school to a state title as a sophomore and then again two years later as a senior captain. He earned second team All-American, first team All-State and All-Conference honors.

All those accolades made him the number one receiver in the 2018 recruiting class ahead of names like Ja'Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals), Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions) and Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins).

5) A transfer player

Born in Princeton, Shorter originally committed to Penn State, and played there his first two collegiate seasons before entering the transfer portal. After missing his freshman season due to injury, he found himself behind KJ Hamler (Denver Broncos) and Jahan Dotson (Washington Commanders) on the depth chart. Shorter committed to Florida for the 2020 season becoming a full-time starter his final two seasons (2021 & 2022).

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during the Gators' game against the South Florida Bulls on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Maddie Washburn

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during the Gators' game against the LSU Tigers on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Maddie Washburn

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during the Gators' game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Tim Casey

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during the Gators' game against the Eastern Washington Eagles on Sunday, October 2, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Tim Casey

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during the Gators' game against the LSU Tigers on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Tim Casey

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during the Gators' game against the Missouri Tigers on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Hannah White

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during the Gators' game against the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at Neyland Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Jordan McKendrick

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during the Gators' game against the LSU Tigers on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Craig Haas

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during the Gators' game against the Eastern Washington Eagles on Sunday, October 2, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Isabella Marley

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during the Gators' game against the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. / UAA Communications photo by Anna Carrington

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during the Gators' game against the Eastern Washington Eagles on Sunday, October 2, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Isabella Marley

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during the Gators' game against the Utah Utes on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Isabella Marley

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during the Gators' game against the South Florida Bulls on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Hannah White

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during the Gators' game against the South Florida Bulls on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Hannah White

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during the Gators' game against the South Florida Bulls on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Maddie Washburn