The starting cornerbacks for the Penn State football team in 2023 were Kalen King, Johnny Dixon and Daequan Hardy. All three cornerbacks have since left the program, leaving a gap in the secondary.

Cam Miller got his first career start in the Peach Bowl, playing alongside Hardy. But the two were unable to slow down Ole Miss’ passing attack, and aside from Miller, now a junior, it looked like the Nittany Lions would have to roll the dice with younger starters in the 2024 offseason.

To clear up the question marks surrounding the position, James Franklin jumped into the transfer portal and brought back cornerbacks Jalen Kimber and AJ Harris. Kimber, a transfer from Florida, and Harris, a transfer from Georgia, came to Penn State at different points in their careers but had similar goals: They both wanted to play.

Redshirt senior Kimber left Florida through the transfer portal and originally committed to Louisville in late December. Less than two weeks later, he transferred to Penn State. Kimber said in April that he ultimately chose the Nittany Lions because he saw the NFL talent in the defensive backs league under the leadership of Coach Terry Smith and said he wanted to be next.

Harris, a sophomore, played for Georgia last season in a crowded cornerback room but left the team at the end of the season. When Harris decided to play for Penn State, he had to work your way up again and accepted the challenge.

Now both transfers are the starting cornerbacks for the Nittany Lions defense in 2024.

Kimber made his 12th career start and Harris his first on Saturday against West Virginia. The transfers helped limit the Mountaineers to just 161 receiving yards, while their best receiver, Preston Fox, barely managed more than 40 yards.

“It meant the world to me to get my first chance to play for Penn State,” Harris said Tuesday. “The program really embraced me and welcomed me with open arms, so I just wanted to go out there and give it my all on the field for my team and my coaching staff.”

Kimber was unavailable to speak to the media this week, but Franklin explained Wednesday why he decided to have Kimber play in the season opener.

“I think he’s really developed in all areas off the field,” Franklin said. “Especially in the weight room, he’s gotten bigger, stronger, faster and more explosive, (and) he’s a skilled player.”

Suddenly, perhaps the Nittany Lions’ biggest weakness appears to be one of their greatest strengths heading into the 2024 season. Kimber and Harris have not only filled much-needed holes in the roster, but have also helped increase the depth at cornerback by giving younger players more time to develop.

“We have more depth than last year,” senior safety Jaylen Reed said Wednesday morning. “That gives us a variety of formations we can use and create packages.”

Penn State fans got a taste of that depth on Saturday when sophomore Elliot Washington II caught the first interception of his career in the fourth quarter.

“He has a tremendous impact in many different ways,” Franklin said of Washington.

It wasn’t easy for Harris and Kimber to get the starting positions. For most of the offseason, it looked like Miller would be the starter because of his three years of experience at Penn State. However, safety Zakee Wheatley noticed Harris and Kimber’s consistent work ethic during the offseason.

“I’ve seen them come in and work every day,” Wheatley said after practice Wednesday. “They’re real dogs. I feel very safe when I see them both next to me (on the field).”

Before starting at Penn State and Florida, Kimber, like Harris, initially chose Georgia out of high school. Kimber was on the 2021 national championship team, and although Harris didn’t win a title in Athens last season, he played with many players who did.

Harris said both his old Georgia teammates and his new Penn State teammates have a similar mindset: “Focus on what you can control.”

“I think we just have to focus on the moment and just focus on Bowling Green right now,” Harris said. “That’s all we can control. Don’t focus on the outside noise and everything will take care of itself.”