Former Penn State SAF King Mack transfers to Alabama

A former four-star defensive back is transferring to Alabama after spending his first year of college football at Penn State.

King Mack, a rising sophomore safety who played in all 13 games with the Nittany Lions last season, posted his commitment Friday to Alabama on social media.

“1000% committed,” Mack posted.

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Mack saw most of his playing time on special teams in 2023. The first two tackles of his career came in Week 2 against Delaware in addition to a quarterback hurry.

The 5-foot-10, 188-pound safety won multiple state championships in three years at St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mack was twice named a team captain on his way to being considered a consensus four-star recruit after being named 3M Defensive Player of the Year two times.

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Mack’s uncle is Keith Ferguson, who played at Ohio State from 1977-80 and in the NFL from 1981-90. He’s also related to former Miami Hurricane Tremain Mack, who played from 1993-96 and also in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals from 1997-2000.

Alabama’s secondary in particular will be part of a revamped defense under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide are tasked with replacing former starters Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry, who were selected among the 2024 NFL Draft’s top 41 picks, as well as safety Jaylen Key who was picked with the final choice in the seventh round.

King is the third defensive back DeBoer and Alabama have added through the portal this offseason. Former Wake Forest cornerback DaShawn Jones and former Charlotte defensive back Kam Howard also transferred into the program this spring, according to Alex Scarborough of Bama247 via 247 Sports.