Penn State hopes for instant contribution from 4-star signee KJ Winston
Penn State loves recruiting versatile defenders.
The Lions have moved linebackers to defensive end, ends to tackle, safeties to linebacker, and corners to safety. It’s been that way under Brent Pry and will likely be under new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, too.
We bring that up to bring up four-star signee Kevin “KJ” Winston. The 2021 All-Met Defensive Player of the Year is ranked by On3 as a safety. But, the Lions could see a couple of roles in his future.
“He has the length, we think, that can play safety,” head coach James Franklin said back on National Signing Day. “We think he could also play the star, the nickel corner position, and there is part of me that would like to start him at corner to see if he could do that.
“The more guys we have with those type of bodies that can play on the perimeter, and not only make plays with their athleticism, but also their length, I think there is tremendous value to that.”
Winston comes to Penn State off stellar high school career
Franklin lamented on signing day that the class’ two signees who play in Maryland, Winston and four-star end Dani Dennis-Sutton, could not enroll in January. That’s because both are seen as potential instant impact contributors.
Winston was a star at Hyattsville DeMatha Catholic. He was a first-team All-WCAC as a senior. His stat line is rather incredible. It includes:
- 50 tackles
- 10 pass breakups
- Five interceptions
- One fumble recovery that was a scoop and score
- Two blocked field goals
- Five touchdowns on offense
It’s not hard to see why landing his National Letter of Intent over Maryland, Michigan State, and numerous others was such a big deal for the Nittany Lions.
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“There’s a real brotherhood there,” Winston told BWI when he committed. “I know you probably hear that all the time, but it’s the truth. I feel like I really see that at Penn State and I come from a school in DeMatha that stresses that.
Winston took a total of five trips to State College during his recruitment before signing. His next one, presumably, will come later next year when he arrives to start his time in blue and white as a student and an athlete.
With Ji’Ayir Brown back at safety but Jaquan Brisker and Tariq Castro-Fields moving on among potential others, Penn State might need help in the secondary right away next fall.
Winston, like Dennis-Sutton, will be a name to watch in that regard during summer camp.
“Two great guys from two great programs that I think will have a chance to come in and compete as true freshmen and we’re expecting them to,” Franklin said.
“Neither one of them are early enrollees. I wish they were. The way their schools are structured and set up, that wasn’t going to be an option, but I think they’ll hit the ground running.”
