BleedGopher
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per Siefert:
Antoine Winfield Jr. knew the call.
The No. 17 Minnesota Golden Gophers were sending a six-man blitz against Penn State, meaning Winfield would line up as a single-high safety. He understood his primary responsibility was to guard the post in the middle of the field.
He recognized something else, though -- a clue that would help him make a big play in the most important game of his college career, a 31-26 upset of the No. 4-ranked Nittany Lions. Penn State's star receiver, KJ Hamler, was lined up in the slot on 3rd-and-9. Against single-high looks in those situations, Winfield recalled from film study, the Nittany Lions liked to throw a deep route to Hamler, who would fade toward the sideline and away from the safety. Quarterback Sean Clifford would throw the ball over Hamler's outside shoulder, further guarding against a safety getting over to break up the pass, and often get a big play.
So at the snap, Winfield sprinted away from the post and toward Hamler. Clifford's pass was a bit short, but Winfield was already in position for an interception -- his second of the game -- that would end a Penn State scoring threat and continue a monster performance that solidified his status as one of the best safeties in the 2020 NFL draft class.
"His anticipation and understanding of where the ball was going made that play happen," Minnesota defensive coordinator Joe Rossi said. "I mean, he got there with time to spare. He gets to balls that other people can't get to."
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Go Gophers!!
Antoine Winfield Jr. knew the call.
The No. 17 Minnesota Golden Gophers were sending a six-man blitz against Penn State, meaning Winfield would line up as a single-high safety. He understood his primary responsibility was to guard the post in the middle of the field.
He recognized something else, though -- a clue that would help him make a big play in the most important game of his college career, a 31-26 upset of the No. 4-ranked Nittany Lions. Penn State's star receiver, KJ Hamler, was lined up in the slot on 3rd-and-9. Against single-high looks in those situations, Winfield recalled from film study, the Nittany Lions liked to throw a deep route to Hamler, who would fade toward the sideline and away from the safety. Quarterback Sean Clifford would throw the ball over Hamler's outside shoulder, further guarding against a safety getting over to break up the pass, and often get a big play.
So at the snap, Winfield sprinted away from the post and toward Hamler. Clifford's pass was a bit short, but Winfield was already in position for an interception -- his second of the game -- that would end a Penn State scoring threat and continue a monster performance that solidified his status as one of the best safeties in the 2020 NFL draft class.
"His anticipation and understanding of where the ball was going made that play happen," Minnesota defensive coordinator Joe Rossi said. "I mean, he got there with time to spare. He gets to balls that other people can't get to."
5-foot-9 with first-round bloodlines: Antoine Winfield Jr.'s unique NFL draft path
Winfield doesn't have typical safety size, but he was a top prospect for the same reason his father had a great NFL career -- the ability to know where the ball will be and make a play on it.
Go Gophers!!
