Kevin Winston Jr. had worked toward this moment for six months. He was hailed as a potential first-round NFL Draft pick prior to partially tearing his ACL in the second week of the 2024 season. It was an injury that required the Penn State safety to undergo surgery and end his highly anticipated junior year just after it began. A grueling recovery led up to a four-second sprint at Friday’s Pro Day.
Winston took a deep breath and positioned into a block start. Then he took off. His time? 4.50.
It took three months of training just to be able to run a 40-yard dash. Winston began by easing into it, finding comfort in running again with the help of fellow safety Jaylen Reed. The mental turmoil of recovering from a life-altering injury was officially put behind him on Friday. The hard part is over. The ball is now in the court of NFL teams looking to make a high-upside selection.
“You could say I was on the top of the world with what I was doing, going into a year where I felt why I knew I was going to dominate and show I’m the best,” Winston said. “It’s hard. Then I got it all taken away from me. But I’d say I truly appreciate it. It made me stronger mentally and physically. I’ve learned things about myself.
“The way I view the game, the way I view life, everything. I appreciate everything so much more, and I don’t take things for granted.”
Winston turned the corner after his first sprint, returned to the sideline and there was Reed. The duo were poised to lead the Nittany Lions’ defensive backs in a powerful three-safety scheme this past season. Reed was forced to adapt from nickel back to safety as Winston adapted to the reality of his circumstance. But they never left each other’s side.
“Me and KJ are like best bros. … At the end of the day, we cheer each other on,” Reed said. “You see, when he got done running his 40, I was the first one down there telling what he did wrong, what he did right. That’s just one thing we go by. That’s my brother for life.”
Winston was a team captain, a preseason All-American candidate and an invaluable piece of Penn State’s defense. His injury devastated a program counting on Winston to help lead the path toward the promised land in the College Football Playoff. Leaving the team behind following his surgery was never an option. He remained a supporting voice the entire year.
“At that point, I’m not out there. I’m not making plays. Because I was a big guy that, not only did I lead with my voice, but I led with how I operated,” Winston said. “So now I had to lead with just being there for them, showing them that I’m injured, but I’m not going to sit here and pout and stop talking to the guys.”
Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren are poised to hear their names called in the first round of April’s draft. But in a world where Winston never tore his ACL, his name very well could’ve been included in that select group. Outside of Carter, there’s not a single player Warren has been asked about more by NFL teams. The story of Winston is an intriguing one.
“I think KJ is a guy that I have a lot of praise for,” Warren said. “They probably have more questions about him just because he didn’t get to play this past year. But I got nothing but good things to say about him. … KJ is a guy that really sticks out to me, just the teammate he is. He’s a great player. Obviously, everybody knows that. But the type of guy he is off the field and the teammate he is, I think, really sticks out to me.”
It’s a story Winston has been eager to tell NFL teams himself. Now, more than ever, Winston’s earned everything that’s come his way. It took two years to become a captain at Penn State and five months of rehabilitation just to run a 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. He wants teams to know he’s not going to take anything for granted.
“My big thing is I’m a leader,” Winston said. “When it comes to it, I’m gonna earn the respect of my teammates, staff members, everybody in the building. I’m gonna earn the respect of them. And I’m gonna take that, once I have a voice in the building, I’m gonna take that upon my mentality — how I operate, my routine and how I do everything.”
