Star Penn State defender declares for NFL Draft

Penn State football has lost the first member of the 2024 roster to the NFL. On Thursday morning, star junior safety KJ Winston announced that he would forgo his final season with the Nittany Lions, declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.

“To Penn State Nation, thank you for making my time here special,” Winston wrote on Instagram. “Wearing the Blue and White has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I’ll always carry the pride of being a Nittany Lion.

“After much thought and prayer, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft. This has been my dream for as long as I can remember, and I’m ready to embrace this next challenge with the same dedication and heart that got me to this point. Thank you to everyone who has been apart of my journey. This is just the beginning.”

Winston’s final season as a Nittany Lion was cut short after he suffered an injury in Week 2 against Bowling Green. On Sunday, James Franklin announced that the star defensive back would not return for Penn State’s run in the College Football Playoff.

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“We will not get KJ back for this year,” Franklin said. “Like I mentioned before, [it’s a] long-term injury.”

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it was a partially-torn ACL that occurred in the days leading up to the September 7 matchup with Bowling Green that sidelined Winston for the rest of 2024.

“Winston suffered a partially-torn ACL during a Week 2 practice that ended his season,” Schefter wrote on X. “Cowboys head team physician Dr. Dan Cooper performed surgery on Winston’s knee, and he is on pace to be cleared for on-field drills by March 1 ahead of the NFL Draft.”

Winston ends his Penn State football career making 15 starts over 28 games played. He leaves Happy Valley with 90 total tackles (53 solo), six passes defended, and one interception.

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