Kalen King, Johnny Dixon leading the way in Penn State's stacked cornerbacks room
The standard in Terry Smith’s cornerback room at Penn State has consistently pushed higher over the last few years. While that should culminate with the program’s first-ever first-round defensive back selection in the NFL Draft in a few weeks in Joey Porter Jr., the guys left on the current roster have once again played up to the level of expectation for the group.
Led by a pair of veterans and a new offseason addition, the cornerbacks were once again a standout position group in Penn State spring practice. Smith said this week that he is “200 percent” confident in his group heading into the summer.
“Joey is a tremendous loss, but our job is to replace him, move forward and get better,” Smith said on Tuesday. “I think we have an opportunity to be better in the room.
“Obviously Kalen King is coming back. He’s had a tremendous spring. He’s completely dominating and he’s taken huge strides to get even better. Johnny Dixon, who stepped in during the last portion of the season and the Rose Bowl, he’s had a tremendous spring. Those two guys are playing at an elite level. They’re playing at a different level than everyone else.
“Then there’s a group of guys, from Daequan Hardy to Cam Miller and Storm Duck, those three guys are having great springs as well. The five of those guys are going to carry us through the season.”
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Dixon held off transfer Storm Duck this spring
Penn State went to the Transfer Portal this offseason to add Duck, a North Carolina graduate who was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2022. The competition has seemingly brought out the best in Dixon, himself a former South Carolina transfer.
“The way we function, I tell the guys going into spring, the best two guys are going to start. That’s including Kalen,” said Smith. “What your accolades were from last year, they really don’t matter. It’s what you bring to the table every day. And you have to bring consistency. So by performance, we come out each day, who the best player is is the guy that’s going to play the most snaps. Now we all know if guys are ready to play, I’m going to rotate guys, I’m going to get a lot of guys playing time. But those two starters, they’re going to be the two best guys in the room. It doesn’t matter if it’s a freshman walking in the door, or if it’s a senior in his fifth year.
“Johnny Dixon and Kalen King [have] outplayed everyone. Those guys, they’re separated from the pack. They’re elite guys. We already know Kalen’s a preseason All-American. Johnny Dixon can be an All-American next year, too. That’s how well he’s played.”
