Penn State adds 10th four-star commitment to Class of 2023 in defensive back King Mack
Penn State’s Class of 2023 added another commitment Thursday from safety King Mack. A native of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Mack has been considered a Nittany Lion lean for a few months now.
His interest became clear at the end of April, when his teammate at St. Thomas Aquinas, Conrad Hussey, announced his commitment to Penn State. In the weeks that followed, word began to leak that Mack was also intrigued, but without ever visiting State College, it would be hard for him to commit.
That all changed about two weeks ago when Mack flew north for his official visit. Along with both his parents and brother, Mack and his family saw what they needed to see, giving the Nittany Lions their fourth defensive back commitment in the Class of 2023.
“Penn State was just a different vibe,” Mack told On3’s Joseph Hastings. “Happy Valley, once I got there, I knew that was the place to be. The way Coach Franklin cares for the kids, he sees bigger than football. But he doesn’t settle for a bachelor’s degree. He wants you to get your master’s degree. That separates and makes a difference between being mediocre and being great. That just stood out for me. What they’re building, it’s wonderful.”
Related: Penn State off to strong start with four-star DE Brian Robinson
In addition to feeling comfortable on campus, Mack’s relationship with the coaching staff was also a massive factor in his decision. His recruitment was started by regional recruiter Ja’Juan Seider. Safeties coach Anthony Poindexter also had a big role in this commitment.
“The loyalty they have. From the beginning of the process, when I first got offered from Penn State, from that day, even until now, they always call me, checking up on me,” Mack said, following his official visit. “They never stopped recruiting me. Coach Dex calls me like three times a week, and it’s not even to talk about football. It’s just to talk about life, making sure mentally I’m OK, on and off the field. That separates. That makes a difference. Knowing that someone cares about you, not only on the field but off the field, is just huge.”
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However, Penn State did have a bigger fight on its hands than it appeared back in the spring. Following an official visit to Michigan State, colleagues indicated that Mack was seriously considering a commitment to the Spartans. He ended up leaving East Lansing without joining Mel Tucker’s rising class, but it did give him something to think about. It ultimately ended up going down to the wire in recent days.
Including the two Big Ten programs, Mack totaled 30 scholarship offers going back to 2020. Miami, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Texas A&M were just a few of the top schools to extend an offer. Miami and Notre Dame previously hosted him for unofficial visits.
Mack instantly becomes one of the fastest players in the class. Back in May at the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A Track & Field State Championships, Mack ran the 100-meter in 10.64 seconds, finishing fourth. He took first place in the 400-meter with a time of 46.68 seconds.
This past season, Mack totaled 54 tackles, four interceptions and three pass deflections for St. Thomas Aquinas. He was part of a squad that won Florida’s 7A state championship. In addition to Hussey and Mack, Penn State also holds a commitment from Pennsylvania native Lamont Payne at cornerback, as well as safety DaKaari Nelson from Alabama.
