Penn State Football: Ranking the 10 best players on the 2023 roster

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 01: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions leads the team onto the field before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium on October 1, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

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MADISON, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 04: Kalen King #4 of the Penn State Nittany Lions. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

2. CB Kalen King

Often in the shadow of fellow cornerback Joey Porter Jr, Kalen King is quietly one of the best cornerbacks in the country.

As a sophomore in 2022, King recorded 30 tackles with three interceptions, which was second most on the team, and 16 pass breakups, which led the team.

The nation received its first glimpse of King’s potential in the Rose Bowl, when he intercepted a pass in the first quarter. ABC’s Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler used the word “elite” multiple times throughout the game when referring to King.

The hype around King has continued this offseason, with On3 ranking him as the fifth best cornerback in the nation heading into 2023. Despite losing Porter, Penn State’s secondary is in good hands with King.

It’s quite possible Penn State Football has a cornerback draft in the first round of back-to-back NFL drafts after never having a first rounder at cornerback.

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