Abdul Carter could wind up as the NFL Draft’s No. 1 overall pick in April. Safety Jaylen Reed was one of Penn State’s most versatile players. But there’s an argument to be made that nobody was more valuable in 2024 than King. There was a steep dropoff at linebacker without him on the field.

Penn State football will have a new starting linebacker next season as Kobe King declares for the 2025 NFL Draft. King, a 6-foot-1, 248-pound redshirt junior, was second on the team with 97 total tackles and led the team with 8.5 tackles for loss.

Penn State cornerback Jalen Kimber announced that he will enter the 2025 NFL Draft after one season with the Nittany Lions. Kimber, who transferred to Penn State after stops at Georgia and Florida, announced his decision Sunday, three days after the Nittany Lions fell to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.

His time on the field was limited in 2024, but Penn State true freshman linebacker Anthony Speca had the look of an impact player in the near future. And now with Kobe King headed to the NFL? If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site,