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James Franklin and his sta: continue to travel the country (9guratively at the moment) to 9nd one of the most valu- able commodities in football: speed. Franklin found that during the 2021 re- cruiting cycle in Michigan cornerback Kalen King. The four-star prospect has the building blocks to be a fantastic, ver- satile corner with the ability to 9t nicely into multiple coverage schemes. King shows the natural athleticism and foot- ball instincts that make great defenders. For cornerbacks coach Terry Smith, landing him was a huge win. STRENGTHS SPEED AND AGILITY King is a burner who has the kind of speed that can change a game. When he plants his foot to get up- 9eld, his burst is noticeable and jumps o: the 9lm. Aside from being a great corner- back, King has added value as a kick re- turner. He has a great feel for setting up his blocks and shows the ability to make defenders miss in tight spaces. He does this with great lateral agility and subtle moves at high speed, akin to a basketball player in transition. Not only does that make him a candidate for kick and punt returns in the future, but it's a good sign that he has the footwork and lateral agility necessary to stay with explosive receivers when trailing in man coverage. BALL SKILLS As with many talented corners, half of King's highlight tape is of his receiving ability. He has so< hands and shows a great ability to track the ball. He can also high-point the football, making him an asset in contested-catch situations. Making plays on the ball with regularity is something that Penn State has struggled to do consistently in re- cent years, and his skills in this area could be a game-changer for the Lions. The former Cass Tech standout also shows a knack for breaking on balls in underneath coverage. Knowing when to 9re downhill is a di;cult skill that not every cornerback has. He shows a con9- dence in his game that will serve him well at the college level. TENACITY There are multiple examples on 9lm in which King completely takes the receiver out of the play by chucking him at the line of scrimmage. While this is something he won't be able to get away with at the college level, it's very good to know that he has the ability to play with physicality at the line. He also has the nasty temperament that is nec- essary to face down larger receivers and play like a No. 1 cornerback should. If he continues to develop physically, this could be a weapon for Penn State in a di- vision deep with talent. AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT TECHNICAL AND MENTAL MASTERY Cornerback is a very technical position, and while King has the tools to succeed, he will have to continue to work on the mental approach. Highlight tapes are in- su;cient to drill down into every tech- nical aspect, but the Michigan native does seem to have a tendency to allow receivers to cross his face on in-breaking routes. With his speed and footwork, it's not a question of physical ability, but a question of continuing to grow at the position. This is also a situation in which King was asked to do more than the average high school cornerback based on his 9lm. Very few teams run press-man coverage, and what King was doing in high school was advanced for his age. However, showing these abilities raises the expectations. This area is simply the next step for him to master and should come in time. SIZE King has the frame to naturally add weight and strength over the course of his college career. With that, he will be able to punch and control receivers at an even higher level. If he can do so without sacri9cing his speed and agility, he has the potential to be a well- rounded cornerback who can match up with any receiver. POSITIONAL PROJECTION FIELD CORNERBACK Penn State plays a 9eld/boundary system based on lateral positioning. King is a natural 9t with his speed and open-9eld skills to play on the wide side and cover more ground. NICKEL The slot requires twitchy ath- letes who can run in any direction but have the physicality to hold up in the running game. Penn State has had suc- cess 9nding players who excel in this role, from Grant Haley to John Reid to Lamont Wade. King has the physical po- tential to 9ll a role similar to the 9rst two and play primarily on the boundary, but then kick inside to play in the slot in nickel and dime situations. ■ of the first things that catches your at- tention on his 2020 highlight video is the physical nature of his game and how good he is in run support from his cor- nerback position. King has pure tackling technique. He possesses exceptional 4.4-second 40-yard speed and a 39- inch vertical leap, has loose hips, and ex- cels in press man-to-man coverage. Al- though he's listed at 5-foot-11, 176 pounds, he plays like he's 6-1, 185. He has superb hand-eye coordination, and because he's also a polished wide re- ceiver on offense, he understands his re- sponsibilities in zone pass coverage. King will press for early playing time at the field cornerback position at Penn State, and he may also be able to con- tribute as a freshman on punt and kick- off returns. I see him as a potential three-year starter. ■ S C O U T I N G R E P O R T B Y T H O M A S F R A N K C A R R S T R E N G T H S A R E A S O F D E V E L O P M E N T P O S I T I O N A L P R O J E C T I O N

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