Defensive player that was believed to be a great fit for Tennessee signs with ACC program
The Tennessee Vols are still looking for some safety help in the transfer portal.
A transfer defender that many believed would be a great fit for the Tennessee Vols has officially committed elsewhere.
Penn State Nittany Lions safety transfer King Mack reportedly signed with the NC State Wolkpack on Thursday.
King Mack previously played under new Vols defensive coordinator Jim Knowles
Mack has a connection to the Vols via new Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
Knowles coached Mack at Penn State in 2025.
The former four-star recruit spoke highly of Knowles’ defense — which has a reputation for being hard to pick up — near the end of the 2025 season.
“Coach Knowles, his biggest thing is for us to play fast, and he sees what we respond to. He knows us as players,” said Mack in November. “So what he did was put us in the best position, and that’s what he did. And we were able to have a good game.”
“It’s actually 1,000% way better (to understand the defense). It’s more fluent. Everybody’s on the same page now. We’re able to execute as a unit, we’re able to be physical, play with grit, toughness. And it’s fun. Honestly, it’s fun.”
“Everyone doesn’t have to do too much,” added Mack. “You don’t have to be an extraordinary player to be a part of Jim Knowles’ defense. As long as you can do your job to the best of your ability, the play is going to come to you. And that’s what’s so great about the defense. One person do their job, it’s an opportunity for everybody on the field.”
Despite the positive words about Knowles, Mack didn’t take a transfer visit to Tennessee before signing with Tennessee.
That would seem to indicate that Tennessee didn’t strongly pursue Mack.
The Vols still need to add multiple transfer safeties to their roster this offseason.
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