Big Deal or No?: Penn State LB Kobe King Doesn’t Mention Tom Allen in Draft Declaration Statement

Allen was only at Penn State for one of King’s four seasons, meaning Allen wasn’t there for 75% of King’s college career. So who knows how much of a bond they built or didn’t build during King’s time at Penn State.

WHAT KING SAID ABOUT ALLEN BEFORE

Kobe King leads the Nittany Lions defense out of the Lucas Oil Stadium tunnel ahead of warmups.

When asked about Allen during spring practice, King explained that Allen’s teaching method was different than Diaz’s.

“I would say we didn’t expect some of the aspects that were presented to us by him, I would say,” King said. “Just with it being… how can I make this more clear… Manny Diaz, he was a guy everyone just wanted to run through a wall for him…. Tom Allen, it just seems like he can get the defense to understand why we’re running through that wall. So I would say he’s bringing a different aspect from the whole defense and the whole team and he makes us develop the mental capacity to understand the value of the game and defense.”

“He emphasizes the mindset part. Just like, we feel what we feel, but you can’t approach a practice and meeting with certain feelings. You have to approach it with a certain mindset that will help you get through it. So, I would definitely say just him emphasizing how impactful having a strong mindset is has been very influential to us.”

ALLEN TO CLEMSON

Graphic by Clemson Athletics: Tom Allen

The day before King declared for the NFL Draft, word got out that Allen was leaving Penn State for Clemson.

Per a report by Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, Allen is set to make $2 million annually over the next three seasons.

This is slightly more than he made at Penn State, where his salary was reported to be $1.5 million annually (starting salary) over three years.

Was the increased salary a big reason for Allen’s move to Clemson? Maybe. Maybe not. But Allen is making more money, and he specifically cited in his farewell address that family was another reason he decided to make the move to Clemson.

Penn State opens the 2025 season against Nevada Aug. 30 at Beaver Stadium.