2024 NFL Draft Player Preview: Kalen King

2024 NFL Draft Player Previews - Choose Player 2024 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia Javon Bullard, CB, Georgia Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State Marvin Harrison, WR, Ohio State TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami Kalen King, CB, Penn State J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama Malachi Moore, S, Alabama Malik Nabers, WR, LSU Zion Nelson, OT, Miami Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois Rome Odunze, WR, Washington Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas Bralen Trice, DE, Washington Dallas Turner, LB, Alabama Jared Verse, DE, Florida State Caleb Williams, QB, USC Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Kalen King, 5-11/191 Cornerback Penn State

Kalen King 2024 Preview
By Charlie Campbell

Career Recap: While Joey Porter Jr. received all of the attention, King was Penn State’s best cornerback in 2022 and made more big plays. King totaled 30 tackles, three interceptions, 21 passes defended and one forced fumble on the year. He was a rotational backup the year efore and recorded 23 tackles, five breakups and a forced fumble.



2023 Season Outlook: King has a pretty easy schedule overall. His toughest test will come against Ohio State on Oct. 21, when he will take on Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. Harrison could be the best receiver in college football and looks like a future top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Egbuka also has early-round potential. Another signifcant test for King could come against Michigan on Nov. 11.

Skill-Set Summary: Cornerback is a premium position because of the importance of the pass in the modern NFL, so there always teams in desperate need of help at corner. Even teams that have good cornerbacks are cognizant of adding more talent and having future difference-makers at this critical position. Thus, there will be plenty of teams hoping to land King in the 2024 NFL Draft.

King is an impressive player who does everything well. The first trait that jumps out about King is his instincts. With fabulous anticipation, he puts himself in position to make big plays and disrupt completions. King has very good vision to read the eyes of the quarterback and displays impressive feel and route recognition. Aided by his instincts guiding him, King stays in position and is able to fly to the ball with good diagnosis skills.



Physically, King is smooth and athletic. He has quick feet and fluid hips that let him run the route to prevent separation. King stays in phase and maintains tight coverage. The one thing lacking from his skill set might be deep speed. While he isn’t super fast, he is quick enough, and his instincts give him an extra step because he is so adept at anticipating what an offense is about to do.

King is also not the biggest of cornerbacks, but he is still tough. He plays bigger than his listed numbers and is a willing tackler. He has enough strength to battle receivers, and he does an impressive job of outfighting wideouts for position. King is a gritty defender who will fight hard.

If King stays consistent to his 2022 performance in 2023, he could be viewed as a potential No. 1 corner for the NFL, similar to Denzel Ward.



2024 NFL Draft Expectations: Entering the 2023 season, King looks like he could be a first-round prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft. However, there have been plenty of cornerbacks who looked like likely first-rounders but ended up sliding after a disappointing season. Thus, King must play well in 2023 to end up as a first-rounder in the 2024 NFL Draft.

2024 NFL Draft Player Previews - Choose Player 2024 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia Javon Bullard, CB, Georgia Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State Marvin Harrison, WR, Ohio State TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami Kalen King, CB, Penn State J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama Malachi Moore, S, Alabama Malik Nabers, WR, LSU Zion Nelson, OT, Miami Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois Rome Odunze, WR, Washington Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas Bralen Trice, DE, Washington Dallas Turner, LB, Alabama Jared Verse, DE, Florida State Caleb Williams, QB, USC Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

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