Penn State’s Johnny Dixon and Kalen King have formed elite cornerback tandem

There’s a buzz surrounding Penn State’s defense as a whole, but James Franklin wants more attention to be dished out to Johnny Dixon for his cornerback efforts.

Throughout the season, Manny Diaz’s defensive scheme has caused several turnovers and affected Penn State’s momentum surges.

“You can argue a defense isn’t judged by its strongest link but rather its weakest link,” Diaz told the media during the bye week.

With the depth of the roster, it’s tough to find a soft spot and the cornerback position is no exception.

Dixon and Kalen King have proved the position can be dynamic: Franklin commended their ability to be involved with pass breakups, blitzes and tackles.

“I think a combination of them covering to allow us to get home in some of our sacks because the quarterbacks have got to hold onto the ball. That helps our defensive line and vice versa,” Franklin said. “The better we rush the passer, the less time we have to be in man-to-man coverage.”

The Nittany Lions held opponents to 9.60 points per game through the first half of the season. Following this week’s UMASS matchup, the remaining weeks will continue to test the defensive unit as conference play quickly intensifies.

Typically, King is feared more by most offenses, so Dixon has been getting most of the targets.

The senior welcomes the threat by getting into the heads of his opponents and is able to capitalize when they start playing scared.

“They might start stumbling off the line trying to do a release. They might drop the easy ball,” Dixon said. “Just stuff like that to let me know I’ve got ’em.”

Dixon recorded eight solo tackles and three pass blocks, including an interception against Illinois and challenged opponents to throw his way: “I love to be honest with you…if you want to throw at me, go ahead.”

Dixon’s Penn State impact began in 2021 after transferring from South Carolina; it took time to develop relationships with the squad, but King was an instant click.

“That’s my boy,” Dixon said. “We always hang out. We always make each other better.”

Diaz stressed the importance of reacting “for the success of their teammates the same way they react for their own success” to promote a culture that focuses on working as one rather than individual statistics when they share the same goal of winning.

Diaz’s approach allows the Nittany Lions to attack differently and more efficiently. Confidence exudes from the entire defense, but through self-scouting during the bye week, Dixon admits the corners still have some work to do: “I always feel like we could have made more plays.”

Franklin considers Dixon’s approach to be more technical, focused on fundamentals and defeating opponents with his hands. He’s a fiery player with a big personality that contributes to his ability to make an impact on the field that should not be overlooked.

Smack talk aside, Penn State’s corners “check a lot of boxes,” according to Franklin and because of that, Dixon and King are dangerous threats regardless of who’s targeted on a play.

“We got two elite corners, so try your luck,” Dixon said.

Amanda Vogt is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email amandaevogt@gmail.com