2023: Started all 12 games and finished with 29 tackles (20 solo), 1½ tackles for a loss and two passes defensed…Was tied for No. 7 on the team in total and solo tackles…Earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media…Helped the team rank No. 2 in the nation in total defense (247.6 ypg) and first downs allowed per game (13.9), No. 3 in scoring defense (13.5 ppg) and No. 7 in passing defense (172.1 ypg)…Was named to the Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists prior to the season…Earned first-team preseason All-American accolades from The Associated Press, Sporting News and Pro Football Focus…Vs. West Virginia (Sept. 2): Named the coaching staff's defensive player of the game after tallying four tackles (one solo)…At Illinois (Sept. 16): Posted four tackles (three solo) and a pass defensed. Made a solo tackle short of the line to gain on third-and-10 to help get the ball back with 42 seconds left in the first half. Recorded a pass defensed in the fourth quarter on third-and-12 to force Illinois to punt…At Ohio State (Oct. 21): Recorded a season-high six tackles (five solo) and a career-high 1½ tackles for a loss. Shared a tackle for a loss on the second play from scrimmage in the second quarter, forcing the Buckeyes to punt. Pushed RB Miyan Williams out of bounds for a loss of 1 yard to record his other tackle for a loss…Vs. Indiana (Oct. 28): Tallied three tackles (all solo) and a pass defensed. Broke up a pass on third-and-3 to force the Hoosiers to go for it on fourth down in the third quarter…At Maryland (Nov. 4): Finished second on the team with five tackles (four solo).
2022: Appeared in all 13 games with nine starts, finishing with a career-best 30 tackles (23 solo), three tackles for a loss, three INTs, 21 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery…Led the Big Ten and ranked No. 3 in the nation in passes defensed…Finished tied for No. 8 in the conference in interceptions…Tied for No. 6 in program history in passes defensed in a single season…Helped the team rank No. 9 in the nation in scoring defense (18.2 ppg)…Earned All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation (second team), Pro Football Focus (third team) and Phil Steele's College Football (honorable mention)…Named third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media…Garnered All-Big Ten accolades from PFF (first team), AP (second team) and Phil Steele's College Football (second team)…Honored as one of three players to receive the team's Keystone Award…At Purdue (Sept. 1): Recorded a solo tackle and a pass defensed. Broke up a pass on third-and-18 early in the fourth quarter, forcing the Boilermakers to punt…Vs. Central Michigan (Sept. 24): Posted four tackles (three solo), four passes defensed, a forced fumble and his first career fumble recovery. Forced a fumble, recovered it and returned it 1 yard in the fourth quarter…Vs. Northwestern (Oct. 1): Recorded two tackles (both solo), three passes defensed and a QB hurry. Helped the defense force five three-and-outs on the Wildcats' first five possessions, a feat that had not happened against a Big Ten opponent since 2011…Vs. Ohio State (Oct. 29): Finished with four tackles (two solo), a tackle for a loss and a pass defensed against the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes. His tackle for a loss came on a pass play when he stopped WR Emeka Egbuka for a loss of 2 yards on third down. Also broke up a pass on Ohio State's final possession of the first half, helping the Nittany Lions maintain the lead heading into halftime…At Indiana (Nov. 5): Logged his first career INT in the third quarter when he picked off QB Brendan Sorsby on a deep pass on second down, with Penn State's ensuing drive resulting in a TD…Vs. Michigan State (Nov. 26): Recorded four tackles (all solo), a tackle for a loss, an INT and a career-high six passes defensed. Tackled RB Jalen Berger for a loss of 4 yards on a pass play on third-and-15 in the first quarter. Intercepted a pass on third-and-7 in the fourth quarter and on the next play from scrimmage, Penn State scored a TD…Vs. Utah (Rose Bowl, Jan. 2): Logged three tackles (two solo) and an INT. Snagged an INT on Utah's second drive of the game on second-and-13 in the first quarter. Penn State's offense followed with a nearly five-minute drive that went 82 yards on 11 plays to score the first TD of the game. Also made a solo tackle on third down late in the third quarter that forced Utah to punt.
2021: Played in all 13 games with one start as a true freshman, finishing with 23 tackles (15 solo), a tackle for a loss, five passes defensed and a forced fumble…Was tied for No. 3 on the team in passes defensed…Vs. Ball State (Sept. 11): Recorded three tackles (all solo) and his first career forced fumble in the fourth quarter…Vs. Michigan (Nov. 13): Posted three tackles (two solo) and a pass defensed. Collected his first career pass defensed when he broke up a pass in the second quarter that led to a third-and-14 and an eventual turnover on downs…Vs. Rutgers (Nov. 20): Logged a pair of passes defensed to help the team to its second shutout victory of the season, marking the first time since joining the Big Ten (1993) that the Nittany Lions had shut out two conference opponents in a single season…At Michigan State (Nov. 27): Recorded five tackles (four solo), a tackle for a loss and a pass defensed. Broke up a pass in the second quarter that helped hold the Spartans to a field goal. Made a tackle for a loss in the fourth quarter on a first-down play that was followed by two incomplete passes and a punt…Vs. Arkansas (Outback Bowl, Jan. 1): Posted a career-high seven tackles (four solo) and a pass defensed. Forced the Razorbacks to punt with a pass defensed on a third down in the first quarter.
HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered four years at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Mich. …Earned all-state, all-region, all-city and Detroit Public School League all-conference honors as a junior and senior…As a senior, recorded 13 tackles, three INTs and eight passes defensed on defense and scored eight touchdowns as a wide receiver on offense…Posted 25 tackles, an INT and five passes defensed as well as 13 touchdowns on offense as a junior…Helped lead the Technicians to an 11-2 record with an INT, eight passes defensed and two forced fumbles as a sophomore…As a freshman, tallied three passes defensed as the team went 11-3 and earned district and regional titles…Also played basketball for three years and participated in track for two years.
PERSONAL: Given name Kalen Daron King…Born in Detroit, Mich. ...His twin brother, Kobe, is a linebacker for Penn State.
