FanHouse Justin King

Yesterday I mentioned that Tennessee State cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie could make a big move if he had a big day at the Combine. Here's a look at how Rodgers-Cromartie compares to other defensive backs in the draft:

Today Rodgers-Cromartie had that big day, turning in a 40-yard dash that was unofficially clocked at 4.28 seconds, which would make him the fastest defensive back in this year's draft. Rodgers-Cromartie also has great size for a cornerback, measuring at six feet, one and a half inches, and there is now little doubt that he'll be a first-round draft pick.

The only doubt about Rodgers-Cromartie is how quickly he'll be able to contribute to an NFL defense, as there's an awfully large step up in quality from Tennessee State to the NFL. The best guess is that it'll take a year before he's a starter, but that he'll be a very good special teams contributor from Day 1.

UPDATE: The NFL has now released the official times, and Rodgers-Cromartie's time was changed to 4.33. Penn State's Justin King and Connecticut's Tyvon Branch tied as the fastest defensive backs with 4.31-second 40s.

Steve Slaton and Darren McFadden weren't the only juniors who decided to skip their senior seasons and enter the NFL draft this weekend, as Penn State is going to lose a key member of their secondary as well.

A day before the deadline for juniors to declare, the Nittany Lions officially learned that cornerback Justin King is going pro.

"Justin's happy with his decision," [Justin's stepfather Terry] Smith said. "He just felt like he was ready for the next phase of his life. He did the same thing when he graduated from high school early and went to Penn State."

This move wasn't unexpected. King already received his degree back in December, and going into the season he was widely viewed as one of the best cover corners in college football. Justin struggled a bit this season thanks to a shoulder injury that bothered him all season, but he still managed to be named a first team All-Big Ten selection despite the drop off in his performance.

Unfortunately for Justin, this past season is still going to cost him some money. Word amongst NFL scouts is that Justin's play this season knocked him down from being a for sure first-round pick to most likely a early to mid second round selection.

Either way, he's not going to be easy to replace in Happy Valley.

A look at the 2007 junior class as players decide whether to enter the 2008 NFL draft.

Penn State junior cornerback Justin King has decided to enter the 2008 NFL draft, and that's a good decision. In fact, if the NFL would let sophomores enter the draft, it would have been an even better decision for King to have turned pro last year.

In the photo, King is leaping in front of Ted Ginn to intercept a Troy Smith pass in 2006. King had an outstanding game against Ginn, a game that would have a lot of observers thinking, "If Ginn is a top 10 pick, King must be, too."

It doesn't quite work that, way, though. A year ago King definitely would have been a first-round pick, but he struggled through a disappointing 2007 season, with a nagging shoulder injury always causing him trouble. King isn't likely to be a first-round pick in 2008.

But if he had returned to Penn State in 2008, he would have been running the risk of that shoulder getting worse, and of slipping even further down draft boards. King, who caught a lucky break when Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins chose not to enter the draft, did the right thing by turning pro.

See the full list of 2008 NFL draft early entries.

With their 24-17 victory in San Antonio over Texas A&M last night, Penn State not only gave Joe Paterno his record 23rd bowl game victory, but it also opened a new window to what we should expect from the Nittany Lions next season. Rejoice, Penn State fans. The Anthony Morelli Errror Era is over!

On Saturday night the Nittany Lions reintroduced a facet of their offense they've been missing since Michael Robinson led Penn State to an Orange Bowl victory in 2006 over Florida State: a mobile quarterback.

Part of Penn State's game plan going in was to get junior quarterback Daryll Clark involved in the offense, and they did just that. Clark didn't throw any passes during the game, but he did rush the ball six times for 50 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown that tied the game at 14-14.

Also, while senior Rodney Kinlaw led the Lions in rushing with 143 yards, it was freshman Evan Royster who broke free for a 38-yard touchdown that would prove to be the difference in the game.

So heading into 2008 there's a lot to be optimistic about in Happy Valley. Yes, the defense must deal with the loss of Dan Connor, but Penn State is Linebacker U, so I feel safe in my assumption they'll find somebody to fill that void. They also face the possible loss of corner Justin King, who is yet to decide whether or not he's going to return for his senior season.

Still, given the fact that Michigan may drop off a bit next season as they get accustomed to Rich Rodriguez's new offense there's an opening at the top of the Big Ten. It's not going to be easy because Ohio State will still be Ohio State, and the rest of the Big Ten continues to improve, but at this point a conference title and BCS berth should be the NIttany Lions goal going into next season.

With Clark under center, and Royster toting the rock, it's a goal that's very much within reach.

Don't expect Penn State cornerback Justin King to be back at Penn State next year unless something catastrophic happens:

The junior cornerback from Monroeville, who is on track to graduate after the fall semester, will consider leaving for the NFL if he has a strong enough season to merit a first-round draft pick.

"I'm just looking to come out and have a great season to where it's a no-brainer," King said. "That's every kid's dream."

This is highly likely. King is gooood, having shut down Ted Ginn and Robert Meachum last year. Notre Dame's point explosion was mostly an artifact of Penn State's excessively conservative, zone-based gameplan. He got torched by Mario Manningham when both were freshmen and the rematch was canceled when Manningham tore his meniscus against Michigan State, but other than that King has been virtually invulnerable. Unless an injury derails his junior year he's gone. Enjoy him, Lion fans; I'll be over here silently cursing his decision to attend Penn State instead of Michigan as I watch Morgan Trent get shredded against Oregon.