After spending four seasons with the Nittany Lions, Penn State football linebacker Kobe King is headed to the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Detroit native came out of Cass Technical High School as a three-star recruit in the 2021 recruitment class. King was ranked as the 57th linebacker in the nation and the 14th overall prospect out of Michigan. King received offers from Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, but ultimately chose to attend Penn State alongside his brother, Kalen.

“Physically put-together prospect. Looks like a college-ready recruit on the hoof. Has played in the backfield on offense and shows that athleticism on defense also,” 247Sports’ Allen Treiu said of King coming out of high school. “Can get downhill in a hurry. Strong and meets blockers and ball carriers with physicality. Can also pick his way through the wash, though, and avoid blockers as well as take them on. Good change of direction and foot speed, but there is still room for improvement in those areas.”

During his first two seasons in Happy Valley, King appeared in 17 games. In those contests, King posted 44 total tackles, while returning a fumble for a touchdown and defending three passes. He did not register a start until his third season with the team.

King was dubbed an All-Big Ten honorable mention by coaches and media during his redshirt sophomore campaign. In that season, King played in 13 games, finishing with 59 total tackles, one-and-a-half sacks, six tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery in 2023.

Ahead of the 2024 season, King was named a team captain and was added to the Butkus Award watchlist. He started all 16 games for the Nittany Lions during his redshirt junior season, showcasing his elite playmaking ability, totaling 97 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, and 8.5 tackles for loss.

King was named the coaching staff’s Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Minnesota, where he accumulated nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a quarterback hurry. The Nittany Lion was also selected to the All-Big Ten second team for his stellar 2024 season.

King recorded a 4.63 40-yard dash, 7.21 three-cone drill, 4.26 shuttle drill, and a 9’1″ broad jump during Penn State’s Pro Day in March.

The longtime Nittany Lion boasts an adequate frame, standing at 6’1″ and 236 pounds. King’s best play comes when he is attacking running lanes, using his momentum to generate game-changing plays for the defense. He has great vision and sniffs out open running lanes as soon as they open.

King makes pre-snap adjustments and fixes his teammates’ alignments when necessary, and he is seldom fooled by pre-snap motion.

“Brings that old-school linebacker nastiness between the tackles — shows some serious dog when taking on lead blocks and fighting through contact. High-level football intelligence evident in his recognition of screen plays and ability to sniff out misdirection,” NFL Draft Buzz wrote.

“Doesn’t have the quickness and athletic ability to work over the top of blocks versus perimeter runs. Below-average arm length, which limits the extension he can get on blocks, and can lead to him getting stuck. Subpar awareness in zone coverage. Often late to recognize threats coming into his area,” Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder wrote.

King has visited the Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Detroit Lions, as well as a few other NFL teams ahead of the draft.

The two-year starter is projected to be a fourth-round selection by NFL Draft Buzz and is ranked as its 11th-best linebacker in this draft class. Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder believes that King is a day-three pick and compares him to Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jack Sanborn.

The NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, and ends Saturday, April 26. All seven pounds will be televised on ESPN and the NFL Network.