The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine begins in Indianapolis on Thursday with defensive lineman and linebackers beginning their workouts. While that should have been the most exciting day for Penn State fans to tune in, star defensive end Abdul Carter has opted out of workouts and will only be conducting interviews with interested teams during his time in Indy.
Carter is still recovering from a shoulder injury that he suffered in Penn State’s College Football Playoff Quarterfinal victory over Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve. The junior played through the injury in the CFP Semifinal loss to Notre Dame at the Orange Bowl, his final collegiate game, but needed time to heal before he could showcase his abilities at Penn State’s Pro Day on March 28 in Happy Valley. Regardless if he works out for teams at all before Draft night, Carter will be a top-5 pick and could be in consideration for the Tennessee Titans at No. 1 overall.
Tight end Tyler Warren is taking a similar approach to the Combine, only interviewing with teams and not working out. After his breakout senior season at Penn State, Warren earned an invite to the green room for the draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin, which almost certainly means he will be a first-round selection.
With Carter and Warren strategically managing their health and draft stock this week, here are the three Penn State players who will participate in the Scouting Combine drills:
- Jaylen Reed, S, senior
- Kevin Winston Jr. S, junior
- Kobe King, LB, redshirt junior
King will be the only former Nittany Lion in action on Thursday as he works out with the linebackers and for the second-team All-Big Ten linebacker, the movement drills will be crucial. King is known as a run-stopping off-ball linebacker, but if he can show quickness and speed in space, then he may climb up into Day 2 of the draft.
Both Penn State safeties will take the field on Friday with the defensive backs and plenty of eyes will be on Winston. It’s unclear what drills the former four-star safety will participate in after missing nearly the entire 2024 season with a knee injury. If Winston does run or do any of the lateral movement drills, those results will weigh heavily on evaluators' minds because they have not seen him play football since he took the field for a few snaps in Penn State’s Week 2 win over Bowling Green.
Winston could help or hurt his draft stock the most of any Nittany Lion in attendance this week.