Penn State safety makes big step at pro day; Carter, Warren don't participate

STATE COLLEGE — Kevin Winston Jr. didn’t have much left to prove to NFL teams, even after playing just one full game as a junior at Penn State.

The 6-foot-1¹⁄₂, 215-pound safety has been solidly projected in the second round for next month’s NFL Draft in Green Bay. Coach James Franklin once said the Maryland native is “beautiful” physically.

But Winston had something to prove to himself, and perhaps one final hurdle for NFL personnel to know he was on the right track just five months removed from a partially torn ACL, which required surgery.

As he glided down the center of Holuba Hall with at least 18 NFL teams keeping watch, Winston checked that final box.

He clocked in with an official 4.50-second 40-yard dash at Friday’s local pro day, but, most importantly, he looked healthy and had full confidence in his legs.

“I just wanted to show that I’m running,” Winston said. “I’m doing well, I’m running, getting stronger. It felt great.”

Winston added he’s still early in his recovery process, anticipating 100% health in time for summer training camp. This was maybe just his second full-blown 40-yard dash since the injury. He’d come in with a 4.44 post-injury, and he reported times in the 4.3s before getting hurt.

Even still, his 4.50 mark would’ve placed him tied for 10th among safeties at this year’s NFL Combine, right alongside potential first-round pick Malaki Starks of Georgia.

Winston wasn’t sure yet if he’d work out for any teams ahead of the draft.

“If I’m feeling good, I’ll be comfortable with it. But have to listen to my body,” he said. “I’ve talked to a lot of teams, and they respect that, so I appreciate that.”

Asked about common questions he’s received from teams through the pre-draft process, Winston said most have wondered why he decided to leave school early. He said it was an easy decision in the end, especially considering the time of his injury. Had it come later in the season, there may have been “gray area” in his decision making.

“I knew physically I was ready to go into the NFL and compete with the best of the best. But my big thing was mentally,” Winston said, echoing the same sentiment he delivered at the NFL Combine.

He again said he’d leaned heavily on veterans in front of him at Penn State like Ji’Ayir Brown, now with the San Francisco 49ers. “Am I mentally ready to go to the next level? Because if you’re not mentally ready, you’re not going to last in that league.”

Winston started 2024 with a bang, earning the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Week honors after the opener at West Virginia. But he suffered his season-ending injury during the next week of practice, and it’s been a long, winding road on the way to next month’s draft.

“You could say I was on the top of the world with where I was, going into a year where I knew I was going to dominate and show I’m the best. It’s hard,” Winston said. “Right then and there, I get it all taken away from me. But I say I truly appreciate it. Made me stronger mentally and physically.

“I’ve learned things by 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.”

Carter, Warren do not participate

While several of his 2024 teammates went through testing and drills at Penn State’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall, Abdul Carter did not participate before meeting with the assembled media.

The Nittany Lions’ elite edge rusher still is working through rehab on a shoulder injury suffered in PSU’s Fiesta Bowl win over Boise State.

Carter did have dinner with Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam and members of the Browns’ front office on Thursday in State College.

Carter, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last season and a first-team All-American, said it was in his best interests to hold off on working out. Carter’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN on Thursday he might still work out for teams in mid-April ahead of the draft.

“Yeah, just me talking to my (management) team, making sure I’m making the best possible decision for me,” said Carter, who finished last season with 23.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, nine quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.

“Still recovering from my shoulder (injury), pretty much 100% now.”

Penn State’s other first-team All-American, tight end Tyler Warren, also opted against working out Friday.

Carter and Warren are expected to go in the first round of the draft in late April, and Carter could be a top-five pick.

Carter reaffirmed his belief he is the best player in the NFL Draft.

“There’s a lot of reasons,” Carter said when asked why he should be picked No. 1 overall. “I think it’s my overall impact on the game, my versatility. I can play multiple positions.

“Probably most important, I step up when I’m needed the most. When crunch time comes around, when you need somebody to make that big play, I feel like I’m the guy who will make that big play.”