Previewing King Mack's 2025 season after return to Penn State

USA Today

2 days ago

You've heard of Return of the King and Return of the Mack, but this offseason marked the return of King Mack, a former 4-star safety. Mack committed to Penn State out of high school and spent his freshman season in Happy Valley before transferring to Alabama for one season. After a year with the Crimson Tide, Mack transferred back to Penn State, where he'll likely become a contributor on the two-deep in 2025. Here's a preview of his 2025 season with the Nittany Lions.
2024 in review
In his lone season in Tuscaloosa, Mack saw time as a rotational piece, recording 14 tackles. The Crimson Tide took a step back in its first year led by coach Kalen DeBoer, finishing the regular season 9-3 before losing to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Biggest question in 2025
Mack's biggest question in 2025 is how he'll adapt to new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' scheme. Knowles has said his defense will be a combination of what he ran at Ohio State and what Penn State ran last year under Tom Allen, but Mack has no experience with either scheme. Knowles has been praised for his creativity, specifically on blitz packages, but his playbook can be hard to learn in one season.
2025 will be a success if…
This season will be a success if Mack sees a significant bump in playing time, setting the stage for him to take over as a starter in 2026. With veteran safety Zakee Wheatley likely to depart after this year, Mack can put himself in position to start next fall with a strong year off the bench.
2025 will be a disappointment if…
One of Mack's biggest weaknesses is his size, listed at 5-foot-10 and 187 pounds. This makes it difficult for him to tackle larger receivers or running backs, something he struggled with at times throughout his first two collegiate seasons. Adding size and strength this offseason will be critical in preparing him for many of the Big Ten players he'll match up against. If Mack can't improve as a tackle, the season may not go the way he wants.
Realistic outlook for 2025
Penn State lost safeties Kevin Winston Jr. and Jaylen Reed to the NFL, opening the door for more playing time for Mack. The expectation is he'll contribute on the two-deep, likely setting career bests in tackles. Given Knowles' exotic blitz packages, he may also record his first tackles for loss since arriving in college.