Kalen King, CB, Penn State
Size:
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 191 pounds
Arm Length: 30 7/8"
Hand Size: 8 3/4"
Accomplishments:
First Team Preseason All-American (2023) • Second Team All-Big Ten (2022)
“Kalen King is an instinctive, fluid cover corner that can showcase a dominant skill set at times in both man and zone.”
Strengths:
Fluid hips
Plus, plus instincts
Pursuit angles vs. the run
Patient footwork
Advanced processing to ID offensive concepts
Concerns:
Elite speed
Transitions out of backpedal
Plays high at times
Film Analysis:
Kalen King aligns primarily to the field within the Nittany Lions secondary. Plays a physical brand of football combined with elite instincts that jump off the screen. Can play both man and zone at a high level.
In man, King plays with patient footwork to keep wideouts within his frame. Uses his hands well inside the contact window and often takes away leverage off the line of scrimmage due to his elite football IQ. Will run the route for pass-catchers at times. In space, King has the hips to quickly flip and run, and the ball skills to bat away passes (21 passes defensed in 2022 ranked third in the country.) He glides in open grass.
In zone, King is always in a spot to make a play and is a constant communicator. He’s an explosive athlete working downhill and will blow up screen plays regularly. Smooth in passing off receivers but will play high at times in deeper zones that showcase sluggish transitions.
Against the run, King takes consistent pursuit angles and isn’t afraid to stick his face in the mud against more physical ball-carriers. Solid tackler but average play strength when engaged with larger wideouts to quickly disengage.
Concerns remain about his long speed and transitions countering quick hitters. He will often take false steps to recover before transitioning towards the target. Eyes can get caught in the backfield vs. shallow concepts at times (whip route vs. Michigan), which leaves King susceptible to athletes with quick change of direction skills. He has the athleticism and technique to utilize his hands in press more frequently, as well.
Overall, King is a highly instinctive corner with scheme versatility that should evolve into an immediate contributor at the next level.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 – Developmental Traits
Exposures: Michigan (2023), Ohio State (2023), Utah (2022), Michigan (2022), Ohio State (2022)
