Penn State's Kalen King Available for the Peach Bowl
Penn State cornerback Kalen King will be available for the Peach Bowl, coach James Franklin confirmed Tuesday, providing a potential boost to the Nittany Lions’ defense. King, who started the season with first-round NFL projections, has not made a public announcement for himself, but he was spotted by reporters at Penn State’s open practice Tuesday in Atlanta. Franklin then discussed the process of getting King back, as well as his excitement, on Zoom.
“We've tried to create an environment where really there's no reason for any player to opt-out,” Franklin said, referencing Saquon Barkley’s decision to play in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl in relation to opt outs this year. “To be able to finish the season with your teammates, I think is important, but I also understand the challenge of it. So just try to have great conversations and discussion. Kalen was great. Kalen's parents were great. I had really good discussions and came up with a plan that everybody was comfortable with. [It’s] great to have him here and be part of the program for one more game.”
By the way Franklin ended his answer, King likely is off to the 2024 NFL Draft after the Peach Bowl. That was the assumption for most of the season, though some of his performances lapsed against the toughest competition. King, a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2023, was part of a Penn State pass defense that ranked second nationally in yards allowed (153.6 yards per game). He led the Big Ten in passes defended (21) and broken up (18) as a sophomore in 2022. This season, King faced fewer throws, breaking up two passes.
“Go out there and have fun. We're going to make sure we have the most fun with him and send him out on a great note,” safety Kevin Winston Jr. said. “That's it. Never take anything for granted and enjoy the time with your brother because you may never get the time again.”
On the other side of the ball, tight end Tyler Warren has announced that he will return to Penn State in 2024. The team’s leader with seven receiving touchdowns, Warren gives first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki a veteran run blocker who was one of Drew Allar’s safety nets, especially in the red zone. Warren is also on the cusp of a Penn State record, needing six more scores to pass Pat Freiermuth in all-time receiving touchdowns by a tight end.
“I'm very excited about it and excited to get back, but I still think right now I'm focused on the Peach Bowl and there's a lot to accomplish with this team,” Warren said Tuesday. “Right now that's where my main focus is, but I'm definitely excited about it. There's a lot of things that went into it.”
Before Warren officially made his decision, he explained his excitement if he got the chance to play for Kotelnicki on Dec. 15. That’s now a reality.
“I like him. I think he’s gonna be a good fit here. I think we’re excited to play for him,” Warren said back at Penn State’s local bowl media day. “He does a good job, if you look at what he’s done, of using the personnel, not necessarily having one system. He uses the players he has, and I think that would be a big thing for us going into next season.”
Franklin explained the process for Warren’s decision, too, which similarly featured a lot of “healthy discussion” but put an emphasis on discussion with NFL personnel. Penn State gauges where a player’s draft stock lies, especially their strengths and weaknesses, and offers a plan for that player to attack those things if they return.
Warren likely improved his draft stock well beyond preseason expectations with his play, but apparently he feels he still has room to grow. Considering fellow starting tight end Theo Johnson will enter the draft, Penn State won’t complain about Warren’s return. The Lions love to use two-tight-end sets but don’t have a ton of experience behind Warren and Johnson. Now, an offensive leader is back.“We've done a really good job of recruiting and developing the tight end room. I think Tyler really helps us because there's some guys behind him we think are really talented, but it sure is nice to have a veteran back while those guys are gaining some experience,” Franklin said. “So a real positive for us in this game and a real positive for us moving into the season.”
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Max Ralph is a Penn State senior studying Broadcast Journalism with minors in sports studies and Japanese. He previously covered Penn State football for two years with The Daily Collegian and has reported with the Associated Press and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Follow him on Twitter (X) @maxralph_ and Instagram @mralph_59.
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