Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472993
6 4 A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M LINEBACKERS M iddle linebackers are often re- ferred to as the quarterbacks of the defense. They may not have the wide-ranging impact that a quarter- back does, but their responsibilities are crucial to a defense's overall performance. If they can't make the right reads and ad- justments, it doesn't matter how good they are once the ball is snapped. That's what makes Kobe King's rise all the more impressive. Entering his redshirt freshman season at Penn State, the De- troit native is in a tight battle with sopho- more Tyler Elsdon to fill the vacancy that opened up at the Mike linebacker position with the graduation of two-year starter Ellis Brooks. The competition between the two linebackers will continue in pre- season practice, but as head coach James Franklin noted in April, both players raised their game during spring drills. "We had great competition at Mike linebacker between Elsdon and Kobe," Franklin said following the Blue-White Game. "And I would say — the staff and managers will tell you this — they prob- ably did better than we anticipated. So, we're a bit further ahead there than we thought." Going back to King's recruitment, there was a point where it felt like an opportu- nity to play for the Nittany Lions may not materialize. In April 2019, Penn State's coaching staff extended a scholarship of- fer to King's twin brother, Kalen, a four- star cornerback prospect according to the On3 Consensus. It wasn't uncommon for schools to pursue one of the King brothers but not the other. Even so, Penn State's offer to Kalen made for some awkward feelings. "There were some schools that would offer me but didn't offer him. There were some schools that offered him and didn't offer me, too," Kobe said. "When [Kalen] got Penn State, I thought, 'Dang, Penn State.' It got my eye. I wanted to go to Penn State, too. I just wanted to talk to some of the coaches. But I wasn't mad or frus- trated. It just opened my eyes a little bit." Even though Kalen was the only one Middle Kid Redshirt freshman Kobe King looks to get comfortable at middle linebacker and join twin brother Kalen in PSU's starting lineup RYA N S N Y D E R | RYA N. S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M After seeing action in four games in 2021, Kobe King (left) is battling for the Lions' middle linebacker spot. His brother, Kalen, is projected to start at cornerback. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER