Penn State football picks up a pair of commitments from twins Kalen and Kobe King
Update: According to longtime play-by-play broadcaster Steve Jones, there’s been at least one other set of twins to play football for Penn State, Pat and Roger Duffy from 1986-1989.
Penn State football picked up its fifth and sixth members in the 2021 class Friday afternoon when twins from Michigan announced their commitments.
Kalen and Kobe King, of Detroit, announced their decisions on 247Sports’ YouTube live stream Friday afternoon.
Longtime play-by-play broadcaster Steve Jones said the Kings will be the first to play for Penn State since Pat and Roger Duffy from 1986-1989.
Both Kings are projected as college defenders with Kalen playing cornerback and Kobe playing inside linebacker. Kalen is the higher rated of the two as a four-star recruit while Kobe is a three-star recruit, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
The tandem attends Cass Technical High School in the Motor City where they helped the football program reach the state quarterfinals as juniors in 2019.
Kalen is the No. 24 cornerback in the country and the No. 10 player in the state of Michigan, according to the same rankings. His profile on 247Sports lists 33 scholarship offers, including offers from Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin.
Kobe is the No. 20 inside linebacker in the country and the No. 13 player in the state of Michigan, according to the same rankings. His profile on 247Sports lists 32 scholarship offers, including offers from the same four Big Ten schools as Kalen.
The Kings are the second and third Detroit recruits to commit to Penn State this week, as the Nittany Lions secure a commitment from four-star Detroit safety Jaylen Reed Thursday evening. All three players list Penn State co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Tim Banks, who also attended high school in Detroit, as their primary recruiter.
The Penn State defensive assistant has deep ties to Detroit but said he still recruits the city as if he’s never been there before.
“(I’m) just not taking it for granted,” Banks said in a teleconference with the media Thursday morning. “(I’m) continuing to go in and act like the area is new to me, if you will. Turning over every stone and making sure I’m evaluating every guy, whether he has no offers or many offers. Just continuing to recruit it as hard as I possibly can has given us an opportunity to be successful.”
Allen Trieu of 247Sports wrote an evaluation of both Kings in March on their profiles, projecting both as potential college starters, but Kalen as a potential undrafted free in the NFL.
“Right at the average for the position size wise,” Trieu’s evaluation of Kalen reads. “Has some length and decent bulk to him now but can still add muscle in college. Has timed very well in the shuttle. That change of direction and technique allows him to be effective in man to man. Offensive and return abilities show his athleticism as well. Has good ball skills. Has to get stronger to be even more effective in press man. Also pure straight line, recovery speed can still be improved upon. But a smart, technically sound prospect who can be effective in both man and zone. Should be a multi-year starter.”
While Trieu doesn’t project Kobe as an NFL player, he still sees a starter in a major conference.
“Physically put-together prospect,” Trieu’s evaluation of Kobe reads. “Looks like a college-ready recruit on the hoof. Has played in the backfield on offense, and shows that athleticism on defense also. 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 area. The same goes for coverage where can be effective but can still polish his technique. Likely a true inside guy but could move around some depending on system. Should be a productive Power 5 starter.”
With the addition of the Kings, the Nittany Lions have moved up seven spots to No. 18 in the 247Sports Composite team rankings and stayed at No. 8 in the conference.
This story was originally published April 10, 2020 at 2:36 PM.
