Penn State is pulling a familiar face out of the transfer portal for the 2025 season. That would be King Mack, a player who spent the 2024 season at Alabama but spent time previously in Happy Valley.

Mack began his career at Penn State, playing for the Nittany Lions in the 2023 season. The DB then transferred to Alabama for the 2024 season but has now decided to return to his original team in a move that isn’t seen often in the portal.

“I’m back home,” said the DB in his announcement on social media.

Mack played in 13 games with the Tide in 2024 and collected 14 tackles. The former top prospect saw most of his action on special teams. In 2023, during his first season with the Nittany Lions, Mack collected 3 tackles in a similar reserve role.

Now, with 2 seasons of experience, the DB will look to cement a role in the Nittany Lions’ secondary.

Before college. Mack starred for St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The 247Sports Composite ranking had Mack as a 4-star prospect, the No. 7 safety, and the No. 22 player out of Florida in the 2023 class. Mack committed to Penn State originally over offers from Michigan State, Arkansas, Florida, and others.

Now, Mack will have the opportunity to rejoin an elite defense in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions ended the 2024 season with the No. 7 total defense in the country and the unit helped the team make it all the way to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.