The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 37 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: Winston is a compact safety that best projects as a nickel in Michigan's defensive scheme. He plays much bigger than his size and displays elite closing speed and physicality on film. Winston is a missile on the back end that can also play in the box if needed. He has a high football IQ and understands what the opposition is trying to accomplish. Overall, Winston is a high-floor recruit that fits in well with Michigan's defensive identity. AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Winston is listed at 5-foot-10½, which is a bit generous. His height and lack of length limits his athletic projection and his ceiling as a recruit. However, you know what you're getting in Winston, and there is no doubt he could be an early difference maker, especially on special teams, where he blocks a lot of kicks and punts at the high school level. MICHIGAN PLAYER COMPARISON: U-M sees Winston filling the Mike Sainristil role, which is a great fit for his skill set. However, he is more physically compact than Sainristil. For that reason, Zeke Berry is a more apt comparison. At 5-11, 192, Berry also had a compact frame and wowed with his closing speed. — EJ Holland BY EJ HOLLAND O n300 Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga defensive back Kainoa Winston committed to Michigan over fellow final- ists North Carolina, Oregon and Penn State, marking one of the biggest wins of the re- cruiting cycle. Penn State was considered the leader for the majority of the cycle. However, new Michigan secondary coach LaMar Morgan did a fantas- tic job of building momentum with the talented prospect. Winston, the No. 103 pros- pect and No. 9 safety nation- ally, and No. 1 prospect in D.C. per On3, made official visits to both Michigan and Penn State to kick off the month of June. Michigan set the bar high on his trip to Ann Arbor and took the slight lead. Penn State was unable to overcome that on his official visit to Happy Valley the following weekend. At the end of the day, Winston felt comfortable with Michigan both on and off the field. "I really like the people, the culture and the school," Winston said. "Ann Arbor is chill and laid back. I just like it there." Winston is a shorter, compact player listed at 5-10½, 184 pounds, but brings elite closing speed and physicality in the secondary. He best projects as a nickel and is expected to play a role like former U-M star Mike Sainristil. Both Morgan and new Michigan de- fensive coordinator Wink Martindale went over scheme fit with Winston dur- ing his official visit. "I really got to see the different for- mations and coverages and the way they move people around," Winston said. "They talked about how they played a lot of different safeties last year. They showed me how they actually move their safeties around and why they do it — high safety and nickel. The first time, they put my film up with Mike [Sainristil]. This time, they just talked more overall football." Morgan played a critical role in clos- ing with Winston. "Coach Morgan is really chill," Win- ston said. "We went over situational football — different downs and dis- tances and times in the game. We talked about what they would call and do. He gave me tips and tricks. We talked a lot of football. He hung out with me and my parents for differ- ent meals and events. It was good getting to spend more time with him. "He reminds me of myself — a lot of people at Michigan do. He's not over-talkative. He chooses his words wisely. He's a mentor. He talked to me about his kids and how he coaches and teaches his players." U-M head coach Sherrone Moore was heavily involved on the official visit as well and had a sit-down meeting with Winston and his family. "My family and I liked him," Winston said. "We talked about how the team is and how authen- tic they are. They never change. That's one of the things I really saw the first time. They are authentic and genuine. When I went for the official visit, it was the same. "They didn't switch up their person- alities. They were just them. That's why people gravitate toward them. They don't do this whole big sales pitch. They just stay true to them. The football speaks for itself." Michigan also got a boost from its players. Junior defensive back Zeke Berry served as Winston's player host, while his former prep teammate, sopho- more offensive lineman Evan Link, gave him some sound advice as well. "I was with Zeke and Q [senior de- fensive back Quinten Johnson] a lot," Winston said. "We watched the UFC fight with some other players and re- cruits. That was fun to hang around them, especially the guys that play the same position. I got to learn more about the program. "They told me that the people don't change and that Ann Arbor is a cool town. The players there are smart. They take football and school seriously. It would be a good fit for me coming from Gonzaga. I also got to talk to Link. He told me about Michigan's values — good football and good education." ❑ Kainoa Winston, The Nation's No. 9 Safety, Goes Blue Winston was a Washington Post All-Metro honorable mention selection as a junior at Gonzaga College High in the District of Columbia. PHOTO COURTESY ON3