Penn State's King to enter NFL draft

As expected, Penn State cornerback Justin King will forgo his final collegiate season and enter the NFL draft in April, his stepfather, Terry Smith, said yesterday.

Smith told the Web site scout.com yesterday that his stepson informed Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley of his decision last week.

As a junior, King cannot officially declare for the draft until tomorrow. Because he has yet to sign with an agent, the all-Big Ten cornerback could withdraw his name from consideration by Friday.

In November, King submitted paperwork to the NFL advisory committee to measure the estimated round in which he could be selected. The cornerback said last month that he was "50-50" on leaving. After the Nittany Lions beat Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29, the 6-foot, 186-pounder was still noncommittal.

King graduated with a liberal arts degree in December. He is projected as an early-round pick in the draft.

However, King's stock dropped this season after a standout sophomore season in which he gained accolades for limiting future first-round choices Ted Ginn Jr. of Ohio State and Robert Meacham of Tennessee. King was hampered by a shoulder injury for most of his junior season and had several shaky efforts. In the Indiana game, receiver James Hardy made 14 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns with King covering him.

King came to Penn State in 2004 as a top-flight recruit despite Penn State's having a losing record in four of the previous five seasons. The Nittany Lions have had three winning seasons since King's arrival.

Smith is a former Nittany Lions wide receiver. He was King's high school coach at Gateway High outside Pittsburgh.

"He wanted to get an education and a degree from Penn State, which he did," Smith told scout.com. "He wanted to help turn Penn State around, and he did that, too."