Ole Miss Peach Bowl Preview: Meeting Penn State's Stingy Secondary

These are the players Ole Miss Rebels' quarterback Jaxson Dart will want to avoid when facing the Penn State Nittany Lions' secondary in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl.

The No. 11 Ole Miss Rebels and No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions are preparing for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 30 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and part of that preparation involves scouting.

The Rebels and Nittany Lions have never faced one another on the gridiron, so many Ole Miss fans may be unfamiliar with the Penn State program under James Franklin. It never hurts to familiarize yourself with the next opponent on the schedule, so why not start now?

That's where The Grove Report comes in. Over the next few days, we will dive in to the Nittany Lions on a position-by-position basis, giving you a look at what Penn State is expected to field on that Saturday in Atlanta. This is a New Year's Six bowl game after all, so the stakes are rather high.

We have already previewed the Nittany Lions' defensive front, and today we will take a look at their secondary.

Penn State cornerback Kalen King (4) celebrates with safety Jaylen Reed (1) after Reed intercepted a pass in the first half of an NCAA football game against Indiana Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in State College, Pa. The Nittany Lions won, 33-24 :: © Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

S Kevin Winston Jr.

High School: DeMatha Catholic (Maryland)

Height: 6-2

Weight: 203

2023 Stats: 51 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception, four pass breakups, two fumble recoveries

S Jaylen Reed

High School: Martin Luther King (Michigan)

Height: 6-0

Weight: 205

2023 Stats: 44 total tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, one pass breakup

CB Kalen King

High School: Cass Technical (Michigan)

Height: 5-11

Weight: 190

2023 Stats: 29 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups

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Winston, a former-four star recruit, was the second-leading tackler on Penn State's defense with 51 total wrap-ups after appearing in all 12 regular season matchups this season. 

Reed finished tied for first on the team in interceptions (2) and was also active in opponents' backfields, as the junior recorded three TFLs in 2023. King, a four-star recruit from 2021, had a down year stat-wise after recording three interceptions in 2022 - but rest assured, King is the last corner you want to test in this Penn State secondary.

Kickoff between Ole Miss and Penn State on Dec. 30 is set for 11 a.m. CT, and the game will be televised on ESPN.