Penn State’s Kevin Winston Jr. leaves with an injury and does not return against Bowling Green.
Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State’s junior safety and captain and the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, staggered off the field against Bowling Green with 14:12 left in the second quarter on Saturday. He didn’t return to action.
Winston made a tackle on the Falcon tight end. One play before limping off, Harold Fannin Jr. sought a tackle to his left but was not involved in the play on his last snap. He stood on the sideline without his helmet and remained in uniform for the remainder of the afternoon.
Coach James Franklin gave little update on Winston, as is customary. “I find it difficult to understand why KJ Winston wasn’t present,” Franklin remarked following a 34-27 victory. “I don’t discuss those topics.” Winston had one tackle when he departed the game. With a career-high 12 tackles and a forced fumble against West Virginia, he was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. Winston also received a Bednarik Award nomination for National Defensive Player of the Week.
Winston is a vital component of Penn State’s secondary and one of the top safeties in the country. He might be selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Under defensive coordinator Tom Allen’s scheme, which frequently uses three safeties, he plays more of a typical safety role.
