Former Penn State football safety King Mack is transferring to NC State, per Pete Nakos. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

Mack, who was in the transfer portal for the third time in his career, initially committed to Penn State as a four-star recruit out of Fort Lauderdale, FL, in the Class of 2023, ranked as the No. 86 recruit and No. 6 safety in the nation, according to 247Sports.

After a true freshman season that saw him play predominantly special teams while burning his redshirt, he transferred to Alabama, where he played an extremely limited role in 2024, making 14 tackles in 13 games. He re-entered the portal after the season and returned to Penn State for the 2025 season.

Mack was part of a safety rotation that included multi-year starter Zakee Wheatley, Antoine Belgrave-Shorter, and Dejuan Lane in 2025, making 58 tackles with one tackle for loss, a half sack, an interception, and three passes defended. He also flashed as a kick returner, including a 77-yard return in the season-opener against Nevada.

His interception, off Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza of Indiana, was a critical component of the team’s comeback against the eventual Big Ten champion Hoosiers that ultimately was overshadowed by Mendoza and Omar Cooper Jr.’s sensational game-winning touchdown.

Nearly all of Penn State’s committed transfers have headed to ACC schools, and Mack joins them by heading to NC State. Aside from the several following James Franklin to Virginia Tech, Elliot Washington II has gone to Clemson, while Jaylen Harvey committed to North Carolina.