Penn State Q&A: KJ Winston talks safety battle, assesses the Lions' quarterbacks, and more
Penn State feels good about its group of safeties after 15 spring practices. That’s true even if a potential starter, Jaylen Reed, missed the Blue-White game for undisclosed reasons.
Position coach Anthony Poindexter has another strong and deep group at his disposal. First-time captain and fifth-year senior Keaton Ellis will man one first-team spot, in all likelihood. Reed will likely take hold of the other to start the year. But, second-year Lion KJ Winston and third-year teammate Zakee Wheatley will play plenty, too. And, sophomore Mehki Flowers figures to see some snaps, as well.
Put it all together, and a room that some may have questioned before spring practice now looks like a strength again, even with Ji’Ayir Brown moving on.
To learn more about it, the quarterbacks from a defender’s perspective, and more, we caught up with Winston recently. He is the focus of today’s Penn State Q&A.
Question: How is the safety room moving on without Ji’Ayir Brown?
KJ Winston: “All of us are trying to step up. With Tig leaving now, we all got to step up equally and everybody has to just take their game to another level. That’s really it.”
Q: Jaylen Reed said he believes you can become an All-American. What does that mean to you?
KW: “I appreciate it, but I have to focus on day-by-day, and can’t get caught up in that kind of stuff. So if I focus day by day, then, whatever happens, will happen.”
Q: Do you feel like you did that during spring?
KW: “Yeah, I feel like I’ve done that, every day coming in being the same person, same attitude, and attacking the game the same way. So, I feel like that’s really what I’ve been doing.”
Q: What can you tell us about Penn State quarterbacks Drew Allar and Beau Pribula?
KW, on Drew Allar: “He’s a great quarterback. You can’t read him all the time. It’s hard to read him. He makes crazy throw. So, seeing him develop in all this time, it’s s just great, and being able to go against a great quarterback like that, I feel ike it’s going to prepare us well for the season. And so it’s a blessing to have somebody like that to compete against every day.”
KW, on Beau Pribula: “Beau’s a great player as well. Whoever’s in, Beau is great, and Beau can run the ball like a running back. He has speed, so that what sands out about him too.”
Q: How is the competition at safety raising the bar in that room?
KW: “I feel like it’s helping out a lot. Everybody’s, stepping up, but it’s no envy. We all just appreciate the competition, and we all take it in. Whenever somebody does well, we’re jumping up and down cheering for them. So I feel like this summer, we’re going to push each other the same way. We know what it is, it’s healthy competition. So I think it’s going to make all of us better players, and help us reach our ceiling and best potential.”
Q: What is your summer focus?
KW: “Mainly man coverage and, and getting my body better. So that’s my main thing. I want to get a lot better in man coverage to where I can totally lock down receivers.”
