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The Penn State football team will search for more defense leadership in 2024. With players such as Curtis Jacobs, Adisa Isaac, Chop Robinson, Kalen King, and others off to the NFL, the young core must be more vocal. Someone who has an opportunity to stand out this season from a leadership standpoint is linebacker Kobe King. According to 2023, team captain Dom DeLuca has stepped up in his leadership role this offseason.

Penn State LB emerging as a leader according to team captain

Watching your brother [Kalen King] head to the NFL while you stay in college is a mental hurdle to overcome. That’s where Kobe King finds himself entering the 2024 season. However, Kobe is ready to take advantage of the opportunity that is in front of him for the Penn State football team.

Last season was his first true season in a larger role where he flourished. King racked up 59 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery in 2023. Now, he is making progress in his role as a vocal leader for the Nittany Lions.

When asked about Kobe King, teammate Dom DeLuca said, “He’s really becoming more of a leader in that room too. I mean, he’s been more vocal with the younger kids taking them under his wing and showing them the ways of the Penn State program. He’s holding everyone to a standard as well which is big. He’s taking a big step, maturing, and having a big voice for this defense.”

2026 five-star stays locked in with Penn State

After a recent push from USC and Michigan, many in the Penn State community were concerned about Messiah Mickens. However, the Camp Hill, PA native made it clear that he is still committed to the Nittany Lions by tweeting two words.

It’s great to see the No. 1 player in PA stay true to his original decision while other offers continue to enter the room. Mickens has made it clear that the Nittany Lions still hold more value than other programs.

This article first appeared on Basic Blues Nation and was syndicated with permission.

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