The Penn State Nittany Lions have been successful this season, going 2-0 in their first two games and sitting at No. 10 in the AP Poll. They will play a nonconference game against the Kent State Golden Flashes on September 21.
While nonconference wins have come easy for the Nittany Lions, that may not be as easy once Big Ten play begins. It was made even more challenging for James Franklin’s squad already, as Franklin announced that safety Kevin Winston Jr. would be out with a ‘long-term’ injury.
Winston Jr led Penn State in tackles last season with 60 to go along with two fumble recoveries and five pass breakups in his first season as a starter.
In Penn State’s 2024 season-opening win over the West Virginia Mountaineers, he had a career-high 12 tackles and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. However, in the first quarter, Winston left the Nittany Lions’ second game, a win over the Bowling Green Falcons, and did not return. Week 3 was a bye week for Penn State.
Franklin did not expand on what kind of injury Winston would suffer or give a timetable on how long he would be out.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Winston as the second-ranked safety in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Freshman Dejuan Lane is expected to fill in while Winston is out.
[ESPN]
