King Mack to enter transfer portal, leave Penn State football again

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Safety and potential leader King Mack looks to be leaving Penn State football, once again.

Mack, a redshirt junior from Florida, will be entering the NCAA transfer portal for the third time in his college career, according to multiple Jan. 2 reports. (Players have through Jan. 16 to enter the portal).

The prominent, four-star recruit out of Florida first left Penn State in the spring of 2024, transferring to Alabama. After one season there, he returned to State College where he was a key member of the secondary this past season.

King totaled 58 tackles, broke up three passes and made a key interception late against No. 1 Indiana. He also returned kickoffs for the Lions.

The effervescent Mack created a stir in the days leading up to the Nittany Lions‘ Dec. 27 victory over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. Mack told a Zoom call of reporters that Penn State crashed from its preseason national title hopes because of a lack of leadership, accountability and player buy-in.

He said he also believed in how new head coach Matt Campbell would change things for the better.

Mack is one of more than 20 Penn State players who have announced their intentions or have been reported to be entering the transfer portal. The growing list includes quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, former 5-star tight end Luke Reynolds and expected starting defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam.

Mack may be eyeing a move to Tennessee to join former Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and safeties coach, Anthony Poindexter, On.3 reports.

Meanwhile, Campbell is still working to complete his new coaching staff, which includes expected hires of former Nittany Lion D’Anton Lynn at defensive coordinator and UCLA top assistant Ikaika Malloe to coach the defensive line.

The transfer portal is an online database of athletes who have submitted requests to find a new program. Players can now come and go through this one-and-only, two-week transfer period (Jan. 2 through Jan. 16).

All transfers are eligible to play immediately, and graduates can transfer at any time. Players are allowed an unlimited number of transfers throughout their college careers. 

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at  fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: King Mack to enter NCAA transfer portal, leave Penn State football

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