UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State junior safety Kevin Winston Jr. was tabbed Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. Winston had a career-high 12 tackles in helping No. 8/9 Penn State to a 34-12 win over West Virginia on Saturday.
Winston earned his first career Big Ten weekly award. He is Penn State’s first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week since Ji’Ayir Brown on September 19, 2022.
Kevin Winston Jr. · Jr. · S · 6-2 · 205 · Columbia, Md. · DeMatha Catholic
- Against West Virginia, tied a career high with 12 tackles (7 solo).
- Earned his third career game with 10+ tackles.
- Eight of his 12 stops came in the first half.
- The junior registered his first career forced fumble in the first quarter.
- Through week one, Winston ranks 16th in the nation in tackles (12) and 22nd in solo tackles (7).
- Helped the Penn State defense to limit West Virginia to 246 yards on 66 plays (3.7 average).
- Penn State held WVU to 85 rushing yards and 161 passing yards.
- PSU limited West Virginia to 4-of-14 on third down, including 1-of-5 on third-and-short (4 or less yards).
- Named to the Bednarik Award Watch List.
- Has appeared in 26 career games, making 14 starts.
- Tabbed All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media in 2023.
No. 8/9 Penn State welcomes Bowling Green on Saturday for a non-conference matchup. Kickoff is set for noon on Big Ten Network at Beaver Stadium.
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