Penn State safety KJ Winston was drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the No. 82 overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. KJ Winston follows up Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren as the third Nittany Lion drafted in the 2025 edition.

Winston was a projected first-round talent heading into 2025, but a season-ending injury against Bowling Green dropped his draft stock significantly. The junior earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention in his sophomore season in 2023.

That season, he made 13 appearances for Penn State, recording 61 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and one interception. In 2022, he played in 12 games, putting up 16 tackles and one tackle for loss.

After the 2024 season, Winston was given anywhere from an early second round to a fourth round grade. After eight months of injury, teams were skeptical about his availability for training camp.

At Penn State’s Pro Day, the safety ran two 4.5 40-yard dashes to prove that he is still an elite athlete after the setback during the 2024 season.