Major outlet says this Penn State football star has a lot to prove

In 2022, Joey Porter Jr. was the Nittany Lions’ top defensive back. But an unsung hero of that season’s defense was Kalen King, who guarded the opposite side of the field. Despite being named a 2023 preseason All-American, the former Penn State football star did not impress as much as many believed he would last fall, prompting USA Today to pin King as a player with a lot to prove as the NFL Draft approaches. 

Kalen King with the diving INT for Penn State at the Rose Bowl‼️

📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/uiOywV4UE0

— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2023

Penn State football star Kalen King among players with the most to prove ahead of the NFL Draft

There are a lot of rising NFL Draft prospects, even among Big Ten programs, that have a lot to prove throughout Pro Days and the NFL Combine. Still, if you ask USA Today, Kalen King stands out as a player with much more to prove than the others — he needs the boost in stock after a somewhat underwhelming 2023 campaign.

Despite being Penn State’s top cornerback last fall, he struggled against the Ohio State Buckeyes — perhaps the Nittany Lions’ biggest game of the year — and also had a drop in stats from 2022. He recorded 29 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss with no picks and just two pass deflections throughout 12 of Penn State’s 13 games last fall.

After being named a Preseason All-American and even winning Defensive Player of the Game (team) against West Virginia in Week 1, most fans left the 2023 season disappointed that more didn’t come from King.

Kalen King at one point was considered the top CB in this years' class. Now he's slipping to day 2. My thoughts:

✅ Solid athletic traits
✅Very good 2022
✅Plays physically beyond size (5'10")
🚩Inconsistent 2023
🚩Awful Senior Bowl
🚩Can he be CB1?#BuildingTheBoard pic.twitter.com/QDfxlC2vCm

— Sniper1154 (@Sniper_1154) February 19, 2024

Now, as the NFL Draft looms just over a month away, the former Penn State football star will be looking to continue building his resume and boost his overall Draft stock, earning a spot as one of the players with the most to prove right now.

USA Today breaks it down

Here is what USA Today had to say about Penn State football cornerback Kalen King ahead of the draft:

“Last season was a significant letdown for King, a preseason All-American who never fully recaptured his previous year’s form in coverage. 

“While Marvin Harrison Jr. has made plenty of cornerbacks look overmatched during his run at Ohio State, the wide receiver’s dominant display against King – 11 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown – ignited concerns that the 5-11, 190-pound cornerback might be ill-suited to handle the NFL given the rash of bigger, more athletic opponents awaiting him. 

“If he is to make it into Day 2 of the draft, King likely has to show he has the makeup to stick with receivers downfield in man coverage – and that likely starts with answering any questions about his speed.”

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