A pair of dynamic Penn State defensive players have been named to the short list of one of college football’s most highly coveted awards.
Kevin Winston Jr., a safety, and Abdul Carter, who moved from linebacker to defensive end this past spring, have been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list. The award honors the nation’s most outstanding defensive player.
Winston burst onto the scene as a sophomore last season, his first as a full-time starter, and tallied a team-high 60 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, an interception and five pass breakups. He was named an All-Big Ten honorable mention for his efforts, and is expected by teammates and coaches to be one of the country’s top defensive backs this fall.
This is the first watch list Winston has been tabbed to this preseason.
“I mean, I don’t have enough adjectives for him,” coach James Franklin said on Thursday. “You look at him physically, he’s beautiful. He’s got a great relationship with the coaches and he’s kind of an extension of the coaching staff. I could go on and on and on. I think he’s gonna have a big year for us, and I think he’s got a very, very special, bright future.”
Carter, on the other hand, is tied for the most watch-list appearances on the Penn State roster — now up to four. He’s also been named to the short lists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Nagurski Trophy and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.
Carter was named to the Walter Camp Award Preseason All-America Team after earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2023. He registered 48 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception, five pass breakups and five hurries last season.
With a move to the edge, Carter’s stats should only improve with increased opportunities to rush the passer and swallow up running backs behind the line of scrimmage.
Winston and Carter are two one of 11 Nittany Lions who have been tabbed to preseason watch lists. Other recognized Penn State players include Drew Allar (Davey O’Brien, Maxwell Award) Nick Singleton (Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award, Paul Hornung Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award), Kaytron Allen (Doak Walker Award), Tyler Warren (Mackey Award), Nick Dawkins (Wuerffel Trophy), Tyler Duzansky (Mannelly Award), Sal Wormley (Outland Trophy), Riley Thompson (Ray Guy Award) and Chase Meyer (Lou Groza Award).
