Former Penn State Safety King Mack Returns via Transfer Portal

Former Penn State safety King Mack is returning to the Nittany Lions after a brief stint with the Alabama Crimson Tide, the program announced Sunday. Mack, who initially left Penn State for Alabama in search of more playing time, re-entered the transfer portal following the 2024 season and has committed to rejoining head coach James Franklin‘s squad.

Mack, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound safety from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., originally signed with Penn State as part of the 2023 recruiting class. He played sparingly during his freshman year, primarily contributing on special teams. Seeking a larger role, Mack transferred to Alabama but remained a backup, recording 14 tackles in 13 games during the 2024 season.

“When I went there, I just knew that it was the place for me,” Mack said of his initial commitment to Penn State. “The coaches treated me with so much love. It was just a different feeling.”

Mack was a highly regarded prospect coming out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, ranked as the No. 86 overall recruit and the No. 6 safety in the 2023 class. His athleticism and versatility were praised by scouts, with 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins describing him as “the football version of a five-tool center fielder.”

Penn State is in need of safety depth following the departure of a starter, and Mack will compete for a significant role in the secondary. He joins a group that includes sophomore KJ Winston, redshirt sophomore Zakee Wheatley, and redshirt freshman DaKaari Nelson. The Nittany Lions also signed three-star safety Alex Smith in the 2025 recruiting class.

Mack’s return bolsters Penn State’s special teams unit, where he excelled during his freshman year, logging 108 snaps. At Alabama, he took 147 special teams snaps and was the Crimson Tide’s highest-rated specialist in 2024.

The Nittany Lions are looking to build on a successful 2024 season that ended with a narrow 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. Mack’s experience and athleticism could provide a boost as the team aims for a deeper playoff run in 2025.