Penn State cornerback Kalen King is ready to take another step in 2023

Penn State has never had a defensive back picked in the first round of the NFL Draft. Former Lion Joey Porter Jr., was expected to hear his name called within the first 31 picks of this year’s pro selection process but did not.

The next best hope to end a preposterous drought for such a storied program? Kalen King.

A third-year cornerback from Detroit, Mich., King and Porter Jr., have similar but not exactly matching resumes on the field, and their careers have not followed the same arc. Yet, it goes without saying that both are extremely talented.

‘JPJ’ redshirted in year one, earned All-Big Ten honors in years two and three, and then returned to hone his skills one final time. It resulted in All-American accolades in year four and rave reviews from NFL personnel.

On the other hand, King played in all 13 contests during the 2021 season and followed that up in his second season by finishing first in the Big Ten and third in the country with 21 pass breakups, which helped him earn second-team All-American honors. He is a preseason All-American this year, according to Walter Camp football, a media mock draft darling already, and is expected to be the leader of the Lions’ secondary and perhaps the defense at large. But, if you think he’s resting on his laurels this offseason, think again.

“It’s preseason for a reason,” King said. “I don’t really get into predictions. It’s definitely a good accolade to have to know that people are noticing the work you’re putting in. 

“Everything I did last year is finally coming to light, so I’m grateful for the accomplishment. But the work is definitely not done. Now I have to become an All-American.”

King’s play is modeled after a football legend

King would follow in his idle’s footsteps by earning All-American honors. He grew up mimicking Charles Woodson, the fantastic Michigan defensive back who was a two-time All-American and Heisman Trophy winner, among many other things as a Wolverine. King grew up wearing No. 2 because that was Woodson’s number in Ann Arbor. He switched to No. 4 at Penn State since two was taken. But, the number change couldn’t take his belief that playing like Woodson did would help guide him where he wants to go.

“It was just the way he played the game,” King said. “He was, like — in high school I played offense, defense, and special teams. So when I was in high school, I used to watch his highlights and how dominant he was on the defensive end and special teams, return game. Just stuff like that.

“Growing up he was like my favorite player to watch.”

There are kids out there now who undoubtedly love watching King. He has no problem making a big play and then celebrating with his teammates before bending his arms at a 90-degree angle and pointing his hands outward, which is the team’s “no fly zone” symbol. That, of course, is what King, and the Penn State secondary, want to be known for: Not allowing opponents to pass. Last year, they most certainly were. This year, they aim to be recognized as a defense to not throw at again. 

Penn State secondary aims for similar results with some new faces

Porter Jr., must be replaced. King is expected to fill his role. But, senior Johnny Dixon, redshirt senior Daequan Hardy, and sophomore Cam Miller, among others, must all be up for the challenge. King must be, as well.

After rarely being targeted in high school, college teams started out by often throwing at the young cornerback more than he was used to once he arrived at Penn State. It continued as they tried to avoid Porter Jr., last season. King was targeted 52 times, or 24 times more than Dixon, who was second on the team in that category. Now, though, King figures to be the avoided one. But, he must possess Porter Jr,’s uncanny ability to not see a pass come his way for a series or three before being pressed into action at a moment’s notice. 

Competition is key

Competition in practice will help ensure it all goes according to plan.

“Well, that position, the first thing, you have to have is, you have to have an edge and a great sense of urgency,” defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. “And, nothing creates that more than competition. So, whether that’s Johnny Dixon continuing to get better and better, Daequan Hardy is having a heck of a spring, Cam Miller’s coming, the young guys are really getting better and get in there. So, you just can’t be comfortable.

“Because, it’s the nature of that position, because what happened a year ago really doesn’t matter. So I think Kalen’s taking that heart. You watch him, and his competitive edge hasn’t dropped off from where it was a year ago. We need that. Because, obviously, we need him to be a guy; we lost a heck of a player, and we need him to embrace having that target on him this year.”

To his credit, King has taken it to heart this offseason. In fact, despite the heightened profile, his head coach doesn’t see any difference between the player who arrived on campus three years ago and the one going through his third set of spring drills from a mentality perspective.

“He’s a guy who did not play like a freshman as a true freshman, obviously took a significant step as a sophomore. And, he’s continuing to trend like that,” Franklin said. 

“He’s got the right mindset, and competes like crazy every single day. I think he’s trending to have another really good year for us. He’s more of a leader through his actions and things like that, but he’s done a really nice job.”

Penn State seeks a leader; can King be it?

Leadership is the last piece of the puzzle. By all accounts, Porter Jr., led through actions and words. The latter part of that is an area King admits he must be better in. That will come with time. Lions redshirt senior defensive tackle D’Von Ellies said he’s noticed improvement throughout spring practice. It should only continue as the days pass by ahead of the Sept. 2 opener opposite West Virginia.

“With Joey leaving, this is an opportunity for me to come up and grab the room as far as things that I’m working on.

“I have to become more of a leader for the young guys. I feel like I have to be the standard for everyone in the corner room.”

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King has every opportunity to be the complete package for Penn State this year on and off the field. If he can check all of the boxes, it will make him not just an All-American but one of next year’s most intriguing juniors who has a stay or go to the NFL decision to make. The cornerback isn’t getting ahead of himself, though. Instead, he’s slowly building step by step and piece by piece toward what will likely be his best season yet. And all the while, he’s bringing his position mates along with him as they work in tandem to push each other to the next level with hopes of surpassing last year’s super production in the secondary.

“The compeition at corner is like, man, we are really a brotherhood, so we’re competing naturally,” King said. “You don’t really have to force the corner room to compete. Because, we bring it every day. We got vets, we got young guys, we got guys who know the ropes, and we got guys who don’t. So, I feel like that only helps the team. 

“The young guys can see how to work. And, the older guys are mentoring the younger guys and getting them up to speed, so there’s no drop-off.”