Ourlads' Profile:
2025 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about KEVIN WINSTON JR.:
Penn State | Hometown: Columbia, MD | HT: 6014 | WT: 213 | 40 time: 4.51 | Hand: 0912 | Arm: 3318 | Wing: 8078
Junior-entry, two-year starter. Missed most of the 2024 season with an ACL injury. All-Big 10 honorable mention in 2023. Typically aligned as the boundary safety with the versatility to play closer to the box. An agile athlete with twitch and change-of-direction skills to cover an extensive area of the field. Makes ground quickly across the field with speed and long strides. Quick to diagnose and react to plays happening in front of him. From depth, highlights instincts and explosiveness to track and play the ball. Good feel for zone coverage underneath as he moves from target to target seamlessly. Breaks up passes at the catchpoint with physicality, and can deflect balls with his back to the quarterback by timing the hands well. Quality man coverage skills and can stick with speedy wide receivers downfield. Explosive out of his stance with exceptional plant-and-drive ability. Elite run defender who triggers downhill quickly to fit out open lanes. Excellent vision to locate the ball carrier and work his way through traffic to finish. Restricts the alley with authority using lateral agility and short-area burst, and forces ball carriers back inside. Physical on contact with blockers and can shove them off or shed efficiently. Outstanding tackling form and technique and is able to finish the play against ball carriers of all sizes with notable strength. Very reliable last line of defense who rarely misses a tackle. His speed and relentless motor help him make plays all over the field and in pursuit. Some tightness shows up in his backpedal. Best suited as a two-high safety due to ordinary range. Bites on play-action getting him out of position. Receivers separate on the break too often in man coverage. Allows some yards-after-contact, though not significant, due to planting his feet on contact. One season of starting experience.
2024 Stats (3 games): 13 T, 1 FF. 2023 Stats: 61 T, 2.5 TFL, 5 PBU, 1 INT. Draft projection: 2nd/3rd round