All 105 is a Nittany Sports Now series profiling each Penn State football player. Here’s a profile of cornerback Kalen King
Before Penn State: A Detroit, Michigan native, King, along with his twin brother, Kobe, now a linebacker for Penn State, played high school football at Detroit Cass Tech.
By the time he left high school, Kalen King, a four-year letterman at Cass Tech who also played basketball and ran track, was a four-star recruit. Kalen King committed to Penn State in April of 2020 and, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, was Penn State’s second highest-ranked commitment, behind only offensive lineman Landon Tengwall.
2021: As a true freshman, King played in all 13 games and made his first career start in the Outback Bowl against Arkansas. Per Pro Football Focus, he played 188 snaps at wide cornerback, which was second-most among Penn State’s returning corners behind Joey Porter Jr.
King and safety Jalen Reed were the only two true freshmen to burn their redshirts in 2021.
Where he stands: King seems to be the favorite to start opposite Porter in Week 1 at Purdue.
Speaking with reporters Wednesday, Penn State cornerbacks coach Terry Smith said that King, Porter and Johnny Dixon are all expected to receive significant playing time.
A quote about King
“Kalen King is probably the most advanced true freshman that we have had since we’ve been here in terms of his ability to practice and compete, both physically and mentally,” head coach James Franklin said last April at the end of spring practices.
