Justin King,
Senior Contributor

Professional Career

Justin's career in the sports industry began at nine years old when he was quickly immersed in the game while serving as a ball boy and equipment manager for the Duquesne University Dukes in Pittsburgh, PA.

King has a breadth of experience in every aspect of the football industry. In 2014, he joined the Cleveland Browns' scouting department, where he worked on a college scouting analytical project for the 2014 N.F.L. Draft.

After garnering success as a business development manager for A.T.I, Physical Therapy in Dallas, TX, King joined his alma mater, Penn State University, as a Recruiting Coordinator in 2017. During that time, King identified and recruited top talent across the country, securing the highest-ranking recruiting class in P.S.U. History in 2018 and achieving an average commit rating of 92.12 with the 2019 recruiting class (ranked 3rd in the country). King earned an M.S. in Sports Administration from the University of Miami (F.L.).

In 2019, King was selected by Commissioner Oliver Luck and S.V.P. Doug Whaley to join the XFL League Office in Stamford, CT as the Manager of Football Operations. There, King oversaw football operations, and college personnel and led the integration of the new playing rules and innovative gameplay to ensure continuity, safety, and entertainment value for fans.

King founded L.I.G. Sports group in 2020, aiming to provide athletes and families with professional services at critical points in the sports ecosystem. The H.S. division of L.I.G.Sports Group is called Blue Chip Academy. It focuses on recruiting insights, best practices, and individual coaching programs to ensure families capitalize on the recruiting process and use sports as a catalyst to a career they can bank on.

King is a leader amongst men with a passion for mentoring young professionals in the field. Friends, family, and acquaintances regard him as a knowledgeable, no-nonsense, dependable resource and ally with a competitive drive for excellence and keen emotional intelligence.

Playing Career

Regarded as the nation's #1 cornerback coming out of high school, King secured over 55 athletic scholarship offers from the nation's top universities.

After enrolling at The Pennsylvania State University in January of 2005, King earned freshman all-American honors after being a two-way player for the Nittany Lions. Having earned a B.A. in Sports Administration by the end of his junior year, King declared himself eligible for the 2008 N.F.L. Draft.

The St. Louis Rams selected King in the 4th round, 101st overall pick, of the 2008 N.F.L. Draft. King played for the Rams for four seasons before briefer stints with the Indianapolis Colts and hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. Although prematurely coming to a close due to injuries, King had a successful six-year N.F.L. career before retiring to pursue off-the-field opportunities in 2013.