After three seasons in Happy Valley, KJ Winston declared for the 2025 NFL Draft this past December.

The Columbia, Maryland, native was viewed as a four-star prospect by 247Sports’ Composite Rankings coming out of DeMatha Catholic High School. Winston was rated the seventh-best player in Maryland and the 34th-best safety in the 2022 recruitment class.

“Good frame with plus length. Can easily carry 210 pounds. Has a 10-foot-plus broad jump. Evaluated in camp setting and also in-person game action,” 247Sports’ Brian Dohn wrote of Winston coming out of high school. “Is physical with mentality to play in the box. Fierce competitor with on-field production. Is aggressive playing downhill. Instinctual with excellent body control to strike through the ball carrier and deliver big hits. Takes proper angles and is effective in space.”

Winston made an impact straight out of high school, and as a true freshman, he appeared in 12 games and tallied 16 tackles with a single tackle for loss. The following year, he became the Nittany Lions’ starter at safety, patrolling the defensive backfield.

In 2023, Winston amassed a team-high 60 tackles, while also posting 2.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and an interception. Winston was named an All-Big Ten honorable mention by coaches and media for his impressive play in Penn State’s secondary.

Winston had high expectations coming into his junior season, but was hampered by injury. In the Nittany Lions’ season opener against West Virginia, Winston was dubbed Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for posting 12 tackles and a forced fumble against the Mountaineers.

During week two’s matchup against Bowling Green, Winston suffered a partially torn ACL against the Falcons. This injury forced him to sit out for the rest of his junior campaign. Before his injury, Winston had no shortage of praise — picking up first-round buzz during the 2024 offseason.

Winston participated in Penn State’s Pro Day in March with a rehabilitated right knee. Measuring in at 6’1/2″ and 215 pounds, he clocked a 4.5-second 40-yard dash at Holuba Hall. Although he did not participate in any position drills, his performance was certainly impressive.

The hype surrounding Winston is warranted. He possesses the prototypical length and size that general managers covet at the safety position. He is not afraid to play downhill, and he brings a thump while tackling opposing players.

“Winston has NFL size and traits, but is lacking in the instincts and recognition column on the back end. He’s much better when he’s engaged and playing forward, where his play strength and consistency as a tackler stand out,” Lance Zierlein of NFL Network wrote. “He can cover both in-line and slot tight ends and hassle their catch space. However, he struggles with anticipation and footwork when asked to play on top of the defense.”

Winston is ranked as the 77th overall player in the draft and is a projected third-round pick by the 2025 Consensus Draft Board. His services could best suit the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, or Kansas City Chiefs.

The NFL Draft will begin at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, and end on Saturday, April 26, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. All seven rounds will be televised on ESPN and the NFL Network.