Penn State CB Kalen King ready to ‘show the world’ what he can do vs. Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

STATE COLLEGE — Marvin Harrison Jr. is, one could argue, the best player in college football and the top prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. The son of a Hall of Fame receiver, there are sky-high expectations around Harrison. And time and time again, he has lived up to the hype.

Kalen King knows the challenge ahead when Penn State visits Ohio State on Saturday. King, the Nittany Lions’ lockdown cornerback and a projected first-round pick himself, will square up with Harrison in a matchup that could determine who wins the highly anticipated tilt.

King can’t wait.

“I’m definitely looking forward to that,” King said after Wednesday’s practice. “I know he’s a very good receiver, arguably the best in college football. So in order for me to go where I want to go, I feel like I have to stand up to that challenge and show the world what I can do.”

King has already shown he is one of the top cornerbacks in the country. The preseason All-American was excellent in 2022, racking up 18 pass breakups, the second-most in the FBS. He also had three interceptions, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

King is patient. He’s smart. Oftentimes, he’ll run routes for receivers, like he did on his interception in the Rose Bowl win over Utah. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound junior is disruptive and aggressive, playing physical from the line of scrimmage through the catch point.

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Teams have recognized and respected that this year. King has seen only 18 targets through six games, according to Pro Football Focus. Quarterbacks are throwing the other way, concerned with what might happen if they challenge King one-on-one.

Ohio State isn’t going to do that. Harrison, who tallied 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns last year, is going to get targets. So is Emeka Egbuka, if he’s healthy. The Buckeyes are going to test Penn State’s secondary this weekend. King is expecting that.

“They have arguably the best wide receiver group in the country. We have arguably the best defensive back group in the country,” King said. “We already know we’re going to get opportunities. They’re going to try us. That’s just the name of the game. It’s been that way ever since I’ve been here with Ohio State. They have confidence, and we have confidence.”

Something’s got to give in Columbus.

Last year, it was Harrison and Ohio State who got the better of King and Penn State at Beaver Stadium. Harrison racked up 185 yards on 10 catches. He secured two of his bigger catches — a 37-yarder down the Buckeyes sideline and a 21-yarder into the red zone — against King in man coverage.

Watching that tape back, King said it confirmed what he already knew: Harrison has a unique skill set. The speed. The strength. The catch radius.

“He’s an elite guy,” King said. “He plays like one, week-in and week-out.”

But King isn’t going to shy away from that challenge. He isn’t discouraged by giving up a few catches to Harrison last season. He sees Saturday as an opportunity — not only individually, but as a secondary to help the Nittany Lions take down the Buckeyes.

“We respect them a lot,” King said. “But we’re coming out to handle business.”