Kobe King LB Penn State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Kobe King LB Penn State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| PLAY STYLE: BOX LB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 01/17/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.68 seconds (59%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.0 DOB: 01/28/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PLAY STYLE: BOX LB | |
| Last Updated: 01/17/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.68 seconds (59%*) | |
| Age: 22.0 DOB: 01/28/2003 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 83.2 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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79% |
| Pass Rush: |
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71% |
| Run Defense: |
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95% |
| Coverage: |
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73% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#129
Position rank:
#11
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| College Games: 44 College Snaps: 1470 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 88/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tommy Eichenberg - Ohio State |
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80% |
| Cam Jones - Indiana |
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80% |
| Chad Muma - Wyoming |
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80% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Detroit bred and Penn State molded, Kobe King's journey from Cass Tech to Happy Valley reads like a classic linebacker development story. A three-star recruit who blossomed under the bright lights of Beaver Stadium, King's ascent to defensive captain mirrors the gritty determination that defines his play style. His twin brother Kalen's seventh-round selection by Green Bay in 2024 adds another layer to a compelling football family narrative.King's evolution from a rotational piece to the quarterback of Penn State's defense showcases his dedication to the craft. After preserving his redshirt in 2021, he battled for snaps with Tyler Elsdon before seizing control of the Mike linebacker position in 2023. His senior campaign painted the picture of a complete linebacker, racking up 97 tackles (53 solo) while adding 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks across 748 defensive snaps.
The 6'1", 251-pound defender earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2024, building on his honorable mention selection from the previous year. His role as defensive signal-caller during Penn State's run to the College Football Playoff semifinals demonstrated both his football acumen and leadership capabilities, traits that became increasingly evident as he guided one of college football's most respected defensive units.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Possesses elite run-stopping instincts with a natural feel for blocking schemes - consistently beats offensive linemen to their spot and disrupts rushing lanes before they develop.
- Downhill thumper who brings serious thunder to his tackles - watch the Michigan game where he consistently stopped runners dead in their tracks through sheer force.
- Shows outstanding stack-and-shed ability against guards and fullbacks, using powerful hands to maintain separation while tracking the ball carrier.
- Natural defensive quarterback who orchestrates pre-snap adjustments with veteran savvy - routinely puts teammates in position to make plays.
- Plays with controlled aggression in the box, maintaining gap discipline while showing enough wiggle to slice through trash and find the football.
- Reliable tackler who breaks down well in space - demonstrated consistent improvement in open-field situations throughout his career at Penn State.
- Brings that old-school linebacker nastiness between the tackles - shows some serious dog when taking on lead blocks and fighting through contact.
- High-level football intelligence evident in his recognition of screen plays and ability to sniff out misdirection - rarely fooled by offensive window dressing.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Coverage skills remain a work in progress - can look mechanical when forced to flip hips and run with athletic tight ends in man coverage.
- Straight-line speed limitations show up when chasing plays to the boundary - can get outflanked by faster backs turning the corner.
- Pass rush toolkit needs refinement - tends to rely more on power than technique when tasked with blitzing from the second level.
- Change of direction ability can be clunky in space - sometimes takes extra steps to redirect against shifty backs in the flat.
- Height limitations occasionally show up when dealing with longer offensive linemen - can struggle to disengage once bigger blockers lock on.
Scouting Report: Summary
King projects as a rock-solid Mike linebacker who'll make his money as an early-down run defender in the NFL. His combination of processing speed and physical play style reminds me of a young Blake Martinez - maybe not the most explosive athlete, but a linebacker who consistently finds himself around the football.His immediate impact will come in base packages where his run-stopping prowess and ability to command a defense will shine. While he may need to come off the field initially in obvious passing situations, his football intelligence and work ethic suggest he can develop into a three-down player with time.
Teams running predominantly 3-4 schemes will particularly value King's ability to take on blocks and keep linebackers clean. His floor as a reliable early-down defender and special teams contributor makes him an attractive Day 3 selection with the potential to develop into a reliable NFL starter.
How other scouting services rate Kobe King (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
149.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
16.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.