Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1499919
1 6 J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Penn State feels good about its group of safeties after 15 spring practices. That's true even after one of its potential start- ers, junior Jaylen Reed, missed the Blue- White game for undisclosed reasons. Safeties coach Anthony Poindexter has another strong and deep group at his dis- posal as he prepares for his third season with the Nittany Lions. Keaton Ellis, a fifth-year senior and de- fensive captain, is expected to man one of the first-team spots. Reed, who par- ticipated in the practice sessions lead- ing up to the spring game, appears likely to be the starter at the opposite position when Penn State opens its season Sept. 2 against West Virginia. In addition to those two, the Lions boast two up-and-coming safeties in sophomore Kevin Winston Jr. and red- shirt sophomore Zakee Wheatley, both of whom will see plenty of action. Also, redshirt freshman Mehki Flowers and redshirt junior Tyrece Mills figure to see some snaps, as well. The Nittany Lions have some big shoes to fill at the back end of their defense with All-Big Ten safety Ji'Ayir "Tig" Brown moving on to the NFL, but the abundance of returning talent has given Penn State hope that there won't be a drop-off in 2023. To learn more about how the safety po- sitions are taking shape, we caught up re- cently with Winston, a former On3 four- star recruit who made 16 tackles as a true freshman, mostly on special teams. QUESTION: How are the safeties moving on without Ji'Ayir Brown? WINSTON: "All of us are trying to step up. With Tig leaving, we've all got to step up equally. Everybody has to take their game to another level. That's really it." QUESTION: Jaylen Reed said he be- lieves you have the potential to be an All- American. What does that mean to you? WINSTON: "I appreciate it, but I have to focus day by day. I can't get caught up in that kind of stuff. If I focus day by day, then whatever happens will happen." QUESTION: Do you feel like you did that during spring practice? WINSTON: "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. I feel like that's really what I've been doing." QUESTION: From your perspective on defense, what can you tell us about quar- terbacks Drew Allar and Beau Pribula? WINSTON: "Drew is a great quarter- back. It's hard to read him, and he makes crazy throws. Seeing him develop, it's just great. "And being able to go against a great quarterback like that, I feel like it's go- ing to prepare us well for the season. It's a blessing to have somebody like that to compete against every day. "Beau is a great player as well. He can run the ball like a running back. He has speed. That's what stands out about him." QUESTION: How is the competition at safety raising the bar in that room? WINSTON: "I feel like it's helping out a lot. Everybody is stepping up, but there's no envy. We all just appreciate the com- petition, and we all take it in. Whenever somebody does well, we're jumping up and down cheering for them. "I feel like this summer, we're going to push each other the same way. It's healthy competition. I think it's going to make all of us better players and help us reach our ceiling and best potential." QUESTION: What is your focus going to be this summer? WINSTON: "Mainly man coverage and getting my body better. That's my main thing. I want to get a lot better in man coverage, to where I can totally lock down receivers." QUESTION: What were the biggest strides you made during spring practice? WINSTON: "Just learning the game and understanding what offenses are try- ing to do to me. I feel like the biggest part in terms of being able to play fast is un- derstanding what's going on on the field. This year, that's really where I'm taking a big step." Sitting Down With Sophomore Safety Kevin Winston Jr. A former four-star prospect from DeMatha Catholic in Maryland, Winston saw action in 12 games as a freshman at Penn State last fall, finishing with 16 tackles. PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE