Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545675
1 0 8 A U G U S T 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M TOP FIVE PLAYERS 1. Kobe King | LB King came to Penn State as a Rivals Industry Ranking three-star recruit out of Cass Technical High School in Detroit. He got his feet wet at the college level by playing in four games during the 2021 season, and he saw action in all 13 contests as a redshirt freshman the following year. Then his career really took off. He started 27 of his last 29 collegiate games and was named a team captain while also serving as the man in the middle of the defense during the Lions' run to the College Foot - ball Playoff semifinals in 2024. A two-time All-Big Ten pick who earned unanimous second-team honors in his final season, King racked up 200 tackles in 47 career games in addition to 4.5 sacks, and he also was the first Nittany Lion to wear the green dot when player-to-coach radio com - munication was approved at the college level ahead of the 2024 season. 2. Jaylen Reed | S One of the more underrated players on the Lions' 2024 defense, Reed arrived in State College as a four-star prospect. He did not redshirt after playing in eight games as a true freshman and ultimately became both a two-year starter and a two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten selection. Reed led the Lions with 98 tackles in 2024 and also tied for the team lead in interceptions with 3. In 50 career games, which included 29 starts, he made 181 tackles and recorded 5 interceptions while doing strong work along the last line of defense. 3. Zakee Wheatley | S Following a redshirt year, Wheatley, a Rivals Industry Ranking four-star prospect, started making an impact on the Lions' defense in 2022, when he had 2 interceptions and a forced fumble in 12 games. After playing a reserve role again in 2023, the Maryland native started his final two years at safety. He nearly willed the Lions to a victory over Notre Dame in the semifinals of the 2024 College Football Playoff, finish - ing with 16 tackles and an interception. A two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, Wheatley created 11 turnovers during his time in blue and white. 4. Kalen King | CB King will be remembered for leaving school early rather than returning for another season. He ended up slipping to the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but that doesn't negate his productive career in State College. After seeing action in all 13 games as a freshman, King made nine starts his sophomore year, finishing with 30 tackles and leading the Big Ten in passes defended (21) and pass breakups (18). Those numbers helped him earn a second-team Walter Camp All-America nod in addi - tion to unanimous third-team All-Big Ten honors. As a junior, in what would turn out to be his final season, King made 29 stops and was a second-team All-Big Ten choice. 5. Harrison Wallace III | WR While Wallace's best statistical season came in his final year of eligibil- ity at Ole Miss after leaving Penn State via the transfer portal, he was still productive in blue and white when healthy. Over four seasons, he caught 84 passes for 1,221 yards and scored 6 touchdowns. He would likely have enjoyed more success with the Nittany Lions had he not been slowed by a series of injuries that forced him to miss six games. Jaylen Reed's 19-yard pick six at Wisconsin in 2024 gave Penn State a third-quarter lead that it would not relinquish. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL