It’s difficult to describe just how essential Kobe King was to Penn State’s defense last season. He was the middle linebacker, the quarterback of the defense who manned the microphone in the first year of in-helmet communication. He’s now likely to bring his leadership qualities to next level, having been drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 201 overall pick in Saturday’s sixth round.
This past year was all about King separating himself from his twin brother, who joined the Nittany Lions with as a three-star linebacker out of Detroit in 2021. And he did just that, finishing second on the team with 97 tackles, adding 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks on his way to a second-team All-Big Ten selection.
He becomes the fifth Penn State player selected in this year’s draft, joining defensive end Abdul Carter (No. 3, Giants), tight end Tyler Warren (No. 14, Colts) and safeties Kevin Winston Jr. (No. 82, Titans) and Jaylen Reed (No. 187, Texans).
King took off after redshirting in his first year as a Nittany Lion. In his second season, King registered 41 tackles across all 13 games. And by Year 3, he’d entered the starting lineup, blossoming into a consistent threat as part of a unit that finished the season ranked No. 2 nationally in total defense.
He’s the first Penn State linebacker to come off the board in the draft since Brandon Smith and Jesse Luketa were each selected in 2022.
King had the option to return for another season, but ultimately opted to turn pro, leaving behind a defense that is still searching for his replacement at middle linebacker. It’s unlikely the Nittany Lions find someone as immediately reliable as King was in 2024.
