Penn State QB Drew Allar has 3-word message for teammate Kevin Winston Jr’s 2025 NFL Draft decision

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar sent safety Kevin Winston Jr. an encouraging message after he announced he'd declare for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Winston Jr. has been the Nittany Lions starting safety and impact player on defense. He recorded 13 tackles and one forced fumble this season.

"After much thought and prayer, I'm excited to announce that I'll be declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft," Winston Jr. posted on Instagram on Thursday. "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."

Allar replied to Winston Jr.'s post with a three-word response in the comment section, encouraging the safety.

Allar praises Winston Jr.

"Go be legendary," Allar wrote.

Allar was thrilled that his teammate decided to go to the NFL. But before that, the Nittany Lions are in the College Football Playoff and looking to win a national championship.

Winston Jr. is ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.'s third-ranked safety in the 2025 NFL Draft. He's expected to be a Day 2 pick but could sneak into the first round.

Penn State coach pleased with Drew Allar's play going into playoffs

The Penn State Nittany Lions will host the SMU Mustangs on Saturday, Dec. 21, at noon ET.

Entering the playoffs, the Nittany Lions are 8.5-point favorites to defeat SMU. Penn State coach James Franklin is pleased with Drew Allar's play.

"I'm very, very pleased with his overall development, his maturity, his leadership," Franklin said, via 247Sports. "He made some huge plays (against Oregon) to keep us in this thing.

And he continues to do a great job of distributing the ball to our playmakers, and also managing our run game. We put a lot on the quarterback at the line of scrimmage, and he does a really good job of managing all those things."

Allar has gone 224-for-324 for 2,894 yards for 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. In the Big Ten Championship Game, Allar threw for 226 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

If Penn State is going to go on a run in the playoffs, Allar will need to play the best football of his career. Should the Nittany Lions defeat SMU, they will play Boise State in the quarterfinals.