Haynes King

Early life

King attended Longview High School in Longview, Texas. As a senior, he was selected to the 2020 Under Armour All-American Game. He committed to Texas A&M University to play college football.

As junior in 2018, King led the Lobos to their first state title in 81 years. He played under his father, John King, who has been the head coach at Longview High School since 2004.

Texas A&M

King played in two games as a backup quarterback to Kellen Mond his first year at Texas A&M in 2020. Prior to the 2021 season, he was named the team's starting quarterback.

On September 11, 2021 against Colorado, King suffered a lower right leg injury on a scramble in the first quarter and was out for the remainder of the game; he was replaced by sophomore Zach Calzada. On the Monday following the game, head coach Jimbo Fisher stated that King had a fractured leg and would be out indefinitely.

On December 2, 2022, King entered the transfer portal.

Georgia Tech

On December 18, 2022, it was reported King had transferred to Georgia Tech. In his first start at Georgia Tech in 2023, King went 19 of 32 for 313 passing yards and 3 touchdowns but had a fumble and interception as they lost 39–34 against Louisville. King led the Yellow Jackets to a 6–6 regular season record and a win in the Gasparilla Bowl against UCF.

King and the Jackets went 7–5 in the 2024 regular season, ending the regular season in a controversial 44-42 8OT loss to rival Georgia, in which King passed for 303 yards and 2 touchdowns. They subsequently lost in the Birmingham Bowl to Vanderbilt. King finished 10th in the 2025 Heisman Trophy voting after a 9–3 regular season with notable wins over Clemson and ACC champion Duke, winning ACC player of the year and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. King's final game was 25–21 loss in the Pop-Tarts Bowl to BYU.