Penn State Nittany Lions College Football Pregame Quote, 12/27/2024

Q. How does it feel to be the next generation of what is a linebacker university there at Penn State?

KOBE KING: It feels awesome. It feels like I earned it and I’ve done something.

Q. Wanted to ask about the coach that was formerly on staff, Stacy Collins, now at Boise State. What do you remember about him, and how was he as a coach? How cool is it to get to play against him on Tuesday?

KOBE KING: I remember he was a funny guy, funny coach. He was always dialed in on being detailed and intentional and doing things the right way. He’s a great guy, just like any other coach, but he was always dialed in and focused on being intentional.

As for seeing him on game day, it will be good to see him again and say hello, shake hands a little bit. But that’s really it.

Q. In what ways has Jaylen Reed made your defense better? Can you describe his leadership and how important that has been to you guys?

KOBE KING: Ways he makes our defense better is how he controls the secondary, the back end. How smart he is. How he facilitates once he’s out there on the field. His communication as well. Just the way he brings other guys up to his level. A lot of guys have certain traits about their game and certain things they do good or bad.

But the way he brings guys up to his level and the way that he just wants guys to be like-minded. That’s probably the best thing he brings, his leadership, his smarts and the way he communicates.

Q. I’m wondering just how much of Ashton Jeanty you’ve seen in this past week, and what you can tell us about the challenges that he presents?

KOBE KING: I’ve seen a bunch of him already. The challenges he presents? Him being a smaller back but more kind of compact. Not really different from anything we’ve seen all year. He has a great running style. He definitely looks like a high IQ player. They definitely get going behind him. He gets going, their team gets going. If he doesn t, their team is kind of shaky. But he’s definitely a great player, a great back. It’s going to be a great time for us come game day.

Q. You and Jaylen [Reed] obviously go back a while, growing up in Detroit. How have you seen him grow since you first met him to now? Where have you seen the biggest changes up to this point?

KOBE KING: The way he’s turned more into a Jaylen Reed, if that makes sense. Everyone gets here freshman year and has aspirations of playing or just seeing the field and getting out there. But the way he developed and made his stamp. He made himself; he had to. But the way he transcended and grown and the way he comes about it every day. Same guy. He has grown in certain areas and got better, which he took full accountability in. He’s great for us right now, man.

Q. I was talking with you last year and you talked about how meditation had become part of your approach. If that’s true, is that something that you’re still doing? If so, in what ways has that helped you as a player and as a student-athlete?

KOBE KING: Yes, it’s something I’m still doing. The ways it helped me as a player is just talking to myself. Meditation isn’t really the legs crossed with the humming sounds and all this. I think it’s just taking the time to talk to yourself and let the thoughts come to you naturally. Just let them flow.

But I think it helps with everyday doings, just kind of getting away from the team and the coaches. Not saying it like that, but getting away and taking time for myself and collecting my thoughts personally, and then just reflecting on certain things. Certain things need reflecting on and just looking back. But I think it definitely plays a big part in my process, my routine, and definitely a lot of guys should start meditating.

Q. You talked about [Ashton] Jeanty. Coach [Tom] Allen said he would kind of compare him to Derrick Henry in some ways. Is there anyone you’ve seen or maybe you would compare him to?

KOBE KING: I would say more of like a Fat Man [Kaytron Allen], because Fat Man is one great back and also a guy that’s hard to tackle. I would kind of compare him to Blake Corum, just from his running style, how short and compact he is, and how he’s decisive when he’s in holes and how he reads his blocks. But I would say Blake Corum, around the same size. They have the same kind of style, but Jeanty is a great back.

Q. The season is not done yet, but when you kind of look at this year ‚Äì and I know you guys don’t often take much time to reflect on the season when you’re in it ‚Äì but what are the moments this year that you’re going to kind of remember most, so far? Are there certain plays you made or certain moments where you’re like, man, I’m going to remember this many years from now?

KOBE KING: I have a great memory when it comes to certain plays and certain games. I want to say this first playoff game we had. It was definitely memorable, just from being the first playoff game I played in so long; and the first playoff game that’s been held here in forever. But that’s probably the main thing, winning the Rose Bowl. I think the path we’re on right now is definitely going to change my answer come later, with the most memorable here.

But yeah, hopefully win this game, next game, and get the ultimate goal, and that will be the most memorable to me.

Q. How did Dom [Dominic] DeLuca gain your admiration, your respect from the time you first met him? Can you describe his value to this current defense?

KOBE KING: I think he gained my respect from the first time he got here, by us just being likeminded. We were in the same class. We came in at the same time. I don’t think he early enrolled. But we were in the same class. I knew me and Dom just had a connection ever since day one. I just told Dom last week, middle of the game, man, Dom, I love you, man. You, my guy. He’s crazy on the field. He’s a great guy to play with.

But I would just say us being like-minded. We think a lot alike. We coach each other up. We’re the old guys in the room. Guys respect us and we respect the guys that respect us, and me and Dom respect each other as well.

I would say the respect thing, and we both work hard. That’s another thing that got him and I a little closer, is our bond from workouts and meetings. But yeah, he’s definitely been great for us and for this team.

For me, I would say he’s like a mini version of Tyler Warren on defense. You can put him in any spot, he can do anything, and he’ll get the job done officially. Great player, great guy.

Q. The linebacker room in general, obviously with Dom [DeLuca], Tony Rojas, yourself, how fun has it been this season for all of you making plays and coming up big for the Penn State defense?

KOBE KING: Yeah, it’s been fun, seeing the production grow in our room. Earlier in the season, some guys might have expectations or certain things that they want to reach towards. I don’t think that was the thing that the linebackers really stressed or really focused on. We were just focused on doing our job and letting the plays come to us. The production speaks for itself there.

I think we definitely had our ups and downs. Guys got better, grew from mistakes. I definitely see the transition from guys correcting mistakes that we made earlier in the season. Our confidence definitely is going through the roof as the season gets longer. Our confidence is getting stronger, and we’re definitely taking pride in our defense and playing the right way.

Q. We were talking with Nick Singleton yesterday about Ashton Jeanty. He mentioned the importance of wrapping him up as opposed to going for a big hit. What are the challenges that come with just getting a guy like that down? Also, how do you feel that this Penn State defense has done with wrapping up just throughout the season?

KOBE KING: I would just say from my standpoint, if you wrap a guy up, it wouldn’t be that difficult. Just like any other guy carrying a ball, you have to wrap up rather than try to go for a kill shot or just try to go for the ball. You’ve got to wrap up first. That’s just the way I think, the way I play.

When I go for a tackle, I’m always shooting my arms or just trying to wrap people, claw ’em in. But it’s definitely something we’ve got to be locked in on this week as a defense, especially. Wrapping up, keeping our feet running through tackles, just like every week. That’s a thing that we emphasize, a thing we hold ourselves accountable for is tackling. That’s going to be big for us this week.

That’s just another thing we’ve got to dial in on and guys are going to take that as an opportunity and take advantage of it.