An Alabama transfer is headed back to the Big Ten.
After previously transferring to the Alabama Crimson Tide last offseason, safety King Mack has now officially transferred back to the Penn State Nittany Lions, according to an announcement made Sunday afternoon.
During his lone season at Alabama, Mack was primarily a special teams player who did see some time at safety due to injury. In all, Mack had 14 total tackles for the Alabama defense, seven of which were solo.
Prior to Alabama, Mack was a member of the Nittany Lions during the 2023 season as a true freshman, but did not play much at Penn State. Across 13 games, which was the same total at Alabama, Mack had three tackles.
With the decision of Mack, it now means that only one Alabama player that has entered the transfer portal so far this offseason has yet to make a 2025 playing decision, which is wide receiver Jaren Hamilton. The complete list of Alabama transfer decisions, as well as which players the Crimson Tide have added, can be found here.
Former Penn State safety transfer back to Penn State after one season in the SEC.
You can always go back home, as [autotag]King Mack[/autotag] is learning. The veteran safety who transferred to Alabama from Penn State after the 2023 season has announced his commitment out of the transfer portal back to Penn State. His return comes at a great time as Penn State is working to fill some gaps in the secondary this offseason.
Mack stepped back into the transfer portal shortly after the conclusion of Alabama’s season, which ended with a bowl loss to Michigan. Mack appeared in 13 games for Alabama in a reserve role. In his return to State College, it is likely he will see an increased role in a Penn State uniform.
Mack returns as Penn State is seeing Kevin Winston Jr. and Jaylen Reed each heading off to the NFL draft with eligibility remaining. Mack will immediately become a contender for a starting job as he gets back into the program.
After transferring to Alabama last offseason, the safety in back in the portal.
Yet another member of the Alabama Crimson Tide’s secondary has entered the transfer portal, as safety King Mack officially announced his intentions Friday night to do so.
Mack is transfer portal entrant No. 22 for the Crimson Tide so far this cycle, as well as the sixth since the program’s ReliaQuest Bowl loss to the Michigan Wolverines.
The 2024 season was the first, as well as only, season for Mack at Alabama, as the safety transferred from the Penn State Nittany Lions last offseason.
In 2024, Mack was primarily a backup at safety who saw time on special teams for the Crimson Tide, and finished the year with 14 total tackles.
Mack will be entering his junior season in 2025, and is the third Alabama defensive back to enter the transfer portal so far this offseason alongside DeVonta Smith and Jahlil Hurley. Alabama also lost Malachi Moore at the safety position due to graduation.
BREAKING: Alabama DB King Mack has signed the papers necessary to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports
The 5’10 195 DB will have 2 years of eligibility remaining
As a result of this injury, Alabama relied on backups across a majority of the second half vs. Tennessee, with a few names featuring heavily that might not be very familiar to some across the Crimson Tide fanbase.
However, it now appears that those names will likely have to continue to play more-and-more due to the Sabb injury, meaning that some could also become starters going forward.
Here are a few names to watch for that could end up playing prominent roles in replacing Sabb in the Alabama secondary:
Bray Hubbard, Safety
Nov 25, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Brian Battie (21) is tackled by Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Bray Hubbard (18) during the first quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
One of the more obvious players that could see increased time starting this weekend is Hubbard, who played a key role in replacing Sabb during the Tennessee game where he amassed a career-high nine tackles.
The sophomore is in his second season at Alabama after he originally came to the program as a talented two-way prep star from the state of Mississippi, and has already posted a career-high 20 tackles and one TFL this season.
A special teams primarily up to this point, Hubbard is likely the favorite to start for Alabama on Saturday, and could claim the starting job with a strong performance.
King Mack, Safety
Aug 31, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back King Mack (5) dives for Western Kentucky Hilltoppers wide receiver Moussa Barry as he runs the ball toward the end zone during the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-USA TODAY Sports
Another name who saw time at safety during the Tennessee game was Mack, who finished with two tackles.
New to the Alabama program this season, Mack transferred to the Crimson Tide during the offseason from Penn State where he recorded three tackles a year ago as a freshman, and has six so far this season.
Prior to Penn State, Mack was one of the top safeties in the 2023 class out of national power St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida, and is certainly more than capable of stepping into a prominent role for the Crimson Tide.
Kameron Howard, Safety
Lastly, another player to watch for at the safety position is Howard, who is also new to the Alabama program.
Howard also transferred to Alabama this past offseason, coming from the Charlotte 49ers where he had 38 tackles last season as a freshman. So far this season, Howard has amassed two tackles.
Howard also played at one of the nation’s top high school programs in St. Frances Academy out of Maryland, and will likely see more time on special teams at the least.
The Alabama secondary just got better. Penn State transfer defensive back King Mack announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide on (DAY).
The Alabama Crimson Tide added more talent to its secondary. Penn State transfer defensive back King Mack announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide.
Mack, the former top-100 safety prospect, spent one season in Happy Valley. The Florida native recorded three tackles in 13 games played. The majority of his playing time was spent on the Nittany Lions special teams unit.
Mack will add depth and talent to Alabama’s secondary. Alabama lost a total of six safeties following the conclusion of the 2024-2025 season. The list includes Kristian Story, Caleb Downs, Jaylen Key (NFL), Jake Pope, Peyton Woodyard, and Tony Mitchell. Five of the six entered the transfer portal while Key is headed to the NFL.
Mack could see immediate playing time as Alabama is relatively thin in the secondary. It will be interesting to see what his role is on Kane Wommack’s defense next season.
King Mack, a former Penn State top 100-rated recruit, has announced his transfer commitment out of the portal.
It did not take too long for former Penn State defensive back [autotag]King Mack[/autotag] to commit to a new program. But when an offer from a school like Alabama comes along, it can be difficult to pass up.
Mack announced he has committed to Alabama out of the transfer portal. Mack shared the news on his social media account on Friday. Mack will have three years of eligibility remaining as he moves to the SEC powerhouse program.
Mack joins an Alabama program entering a new era following the retirement of the legendary Nick Saban. Alabama replaced the retired Saban with former Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, who helped lead the Huskies all the way to the national championship game last season as the final Pac-12 champion of the era.
Mack entered the transfer portal following the conclusion of spring football practices at Penn State. He spent one season with the Nittany Lions and saw limited playing time before making this transfer move to the Crimson Tide.
Kalen DeBoer continues to work the NCAA transfer portal as the new head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team landing a commitment from Penn State defensive back King Mack on Friday.
Mack is a former top-100 prospect from the class of 2023 and helps secure more depth at the safety position for Coach DeBoer and the Alabama defense.
With the recent departures of Peyton Woodyard and Tony Mitchell, Alabama needed to bring in some more top-notch talent to the safety position and Mack more than fits the bill.
Mack made his commitment public on his X account (formerly Twitter) on Friday afternoon.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.
Alabama football in for a MASSIVE weekend of transfer portal visits!
There is no denying that the Alabama Crimson Tide football team is lacking depth in the secondary as things sit right now. Between NFL draft departures and the transfer portal, the defensive back room has been hit harder than any other position group this offseason in Tuscaloosa.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer has not kept it a secret that he and his staff are heavily targeting DBs in the portal and this is made evident by the trio of portal targets that will be on campus this weekend and next week.
According to BamaOnline (subscription required), the Crimson Tide is currently hosting Wake Forest transfer cornerback DaShawn Jones and Penn State transfer safety King Mack.
Coach DeBoer and company are also expected to host former Indiana and Texas Tech cornerback Kobee Minor starting on Monday.
It’s safe to say that the next couple of days will be huge for the Alabama coaching staff as acquiring depth in secondary is a must for the Tide this offseason.
Stay connected to Roll Tide Wire for more Alabama football recruiting news!
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.
Mack spent one season in Happy Valley. The native of Miami, Florida tallied three tackles for the Nittany Lions. He did appear in all 13 games, however. Coming out of high school, Mack was regarded as a consensus four-star prospect as well as a top-100 prospect.
Football runs in Mack’s family. His uncle, Keith Ferguson played football at Ohio State from 1977-1980. He is also a relative of Tremain Mack who played at Miami (FL) from 1993-1996.
Mack would help add depth and talent to Alabama’s safety room. The Crimson Tide currently have six safeties on the roster with two leaving this week in freshman Peyton Woodyard and sophomore Tony Mitchell. The addition of Mack could be very impactful in the near and distant future.
The current plan is for Penn State safety transfer King Mack to visit Alabama this weekend, a source tells @247sports.
Former top recruit King Mack along with three other Nittany Lions enter the transfer portal
One of Penn State’s prized recruits from the Class of 2023 is entering the transfer portal. Safety [autotag]King Mack[/autotag], the no. 93 player in last year’s class, reposted a post on his Instagram account announcing his intent to transfer after it was reported earlier. Three other Nittany Lions have also entered the portal, per multiple reports.
Mack saw plenty of snaps in last month’s spring game and would have seen an increased role this fall after appearing in all 13 games last season.
In his brief one-year stint in Happy Valley, Mack compiled just three tackles in his limited snaps. After burning his redshirt last year, he will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Others to enter the portal include running back [autotag]London Montgomery[/autotag], a standout during Penn State’s Blue-White game, offensive lineman Golden Israel-Achumba, and wide receiver [autotag]Malik McClain[/autotag].
The transfer portal officially closed on May 1, but due to paperwork being processed, not all transfers were reported until after the fact. We will now wait until Penn State moves to bring in players from the portal.
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