Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1525333
2 2 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M from you than from the coaches. That's who he is as a person." Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen has quickly come to realize the same. Now eight months into his tenure with the program, Allen understands what Winston means to the Nittany Lions and is convinced he's on the brink of an excellent season. "I don't know if I've been around a guy that is as hard on himself and practices harder. N o o n e d o e s j o g - throughs with more focus and energy and attention to detail than that kid," Allen said. "He kind of prac- tices pissed off. If you aren't up to it, you're going to hear it from him. And I love it. The dude is unbelievable. I think he's really, really special. Not just physi- cally, but in all the things that I know make a guy special at the next level." Depending on how the ensuing five months go, that NFL reality could arrive soon for Winston. According to Pro Football Focus, he could be selected as high as the middle of the first round in 2025. Other services have weighed in with second-round projections, but the pathway from Penn State to the pros looks clear. "NFL teams are going to love him," Al- len said. "They're going to put on the film, and I don't care if it's Monday's practice, Tuesday's practice, Wednes- day's practice. They're going to see a dude flying around. "They also want leaders. They're try- ing to build a locker room, just like we are. This is about the big picture of building the best team. Guys who do that, who make that locker room better and aren't afraid to hold guys account- able, they're special — especially when they're your best players." Listed at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds heading into the 2024 season, Win- ston fits the bill. He lev- eled some of the hardest, most impactful hits of any Penn State de- fender last year, burnishing his reputation as a playmaker. Poindexter said Winston stands out for his unique combination of size and ath- leticism, traits that don't typically marry Wearing jersey No. 21 as a sophomore in 2023, Winston led the Nittany Lion defense with 60 tackles, while adding 5 pass breakups and an interception. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL "Sometimes you can rub people the wrong way by telling them in the moment how things are going. But I feel like I want the best out of everybody on my team, and I'd be doing them wrong by not pushing them how they need to be pushed." W I N S T O N