Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Penn State Football

Return of the Mack: Penn State Lands Familiar Face Out of Transfer Portal

Could King Mack, who entered the transfer portal Friday, Jan. 3, 2024, return to Penn State?
Penn State defensive backs Zion Tracy, King Mack, and Elliot Washington II sing the Penn State Alma Mater.

Penn State footballโ€™s latest transfer portal addition is a guy that fans should know.

On Sunday, King Mack announced that heโ€™s returning to Penn State.

Mack started his college career at Penn State as a true freshman in 2023.

He then entered the transfer portal in the spring of 2024 and landed at Alabama.

In what looks to be his lone season at Alabama, Mack played in nine games on defense, totaling 106 snaps. 38 of those snaps came in the teamโ€™s loss at Tennessee Oct. 19.Aside from that, his season-high was just 19, which took place Week 1 in a 63-0 squeaker over Western Kentucky.

So itโ€™s fair to wonder if leaving Penn State was the right choice for Mack. but regardless, heโ€™s back now.

A POSITION OF NEED

Penn State safety Jaylen Reed is out of eligibility after 2024, so Penn State will be missing its two best safeties from this season in 2025.

Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Jaylen Reed

For one, Winston (declared for Draft) and Jaylen Reed(out of eligibility) will be gone in 2025, so Penn State will need help at safety even with veteran Zakee Wheatley coming back.

Penn State is already familiar with Mack and has no problem picking up players who initially chose elsewhere (Chop Robinson being the No. 1 example to date).

With this said, Penn State hasd never picked up a transfer who previously left the program. Judging by the fact that Coach James Franklin prefers to let players who enter the portal move on (Beau Pribula), it was hard for some to see the program welcoming back a player who transferred from it. But, anything can happen, and in this case, it did.

WHERE HE FITS

So where does Mack fit in his second stint with Penn State? Considering defensive coordinator Tom Allen likes to run a 4-2-5, it sure seems that Penn State could find a place for him in the starting lineup. Mack also has more experience at safety than any Penn State returner besides Wheatley.

Penn State opens its 2025 season against Nevada Aug. 30 at Beaver Stadium.

Get NSN in your Inbox

Enter your email address to get notifications of new posts by email.

More from Nittany Sports Now

College Football

0 Former Penn State quarterback Billy Fessler is beginning to climb the coaching ranks. According to a report from Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports,...

Penn State Football

0 A member of Penn State footballโ€™s first national championship team is returning to his alma mater, joining the staff. After 11 seasons as...

Penn State Football

0 As hard as it may be still for some to believe, Jim Knowles is Penn State footballโ€™s defense coordinator, and the program has...

Nittany Podcasts

0 Joe Smeltzer and Kyle Golik discuss what the Jim Knowles era could bring on the latest episode of Joe and the Fatman.