Las Vegas High grad’s versatility boosts NFL draft stock
Because the college football spotlight is constantly on Boise State, defensive tackle Billy Winn essentially went through two NFL scouting combines.
He experienced the real one in February in Indianapolis, and then Winn took part in Boise State's pro day a month later in which 28 clubs showed up.
Scouts apparently liked what they saw. Winn, who prepped at Las Vegas High School, is expected to go in the second or third round of the NFL Draft on Friday. The draft begins today with the first round.
"I've heard he could go as high as the second round," Pro Football Weekly draft expert Nolan Nawrocki said. "It wouldn't shock me if he's drafted that high."
Winn (6 feet 4 inches, 294 pounds) overcame a disappointing workout at the combine by twice running 4.85 seconds in the 40-yard dash at pro day. Some scouts clocked him at 4.82, and Winn said one had him at 4.76.
"It was better than the 5.0 I had at the combine," said Winn, who had eight tackles for loss and three sacks last season. "The (Indianapolis) turf was beat up, and I was one of the last people to go. It was a little tough, but I was able to redeem myself. That's the fastest I ever ran."
One unnamed scout told the Idaho Statesman that Winn helped himself with that pro-day workout.
"Billy looked a lot better than he's looked since the season ended," the scout said. " I thought he struggled at the Senior Bowl and struggled at the combine. He looked like the explosive athlete you expected to see today."
One of Winn's major selling points is his versatility, saying he can fit in fine with a 3-4 or 4-3 defense and play any number of line positions.
"I have the strength to play nose guard," Winn said. "I have the strength to play tackle. And I have the speed to play end."
Winn plans to stay in Boise to watch the draft. His parents left Las Vegas on Tuesday night for what they hope is a big celebration.
He wanted to share the moment in the city he has come to love.
"It's the community, the environment," Winn said. "It's so accepting. I lived in Vegas for 18 years. It was time to get out of there and do other things."
Now he's at another pivotal life moment, a time when he's about to get out and do other things.
Should Winn go in the second round - or even the third - he will face lofty expectations. He knows what it's like to be in the spotlight, but the NFL is a different animal.
His former coach, Boise State's Chris Petersen, said Winn should do just fine.
"Billy Winn is one of those extremely explosive, very quick defensive tackles that are hard to find," Petersen said. "I think Billy Winn's best years will be in front of him. I think he's still getting better, still learning how to play at a consistently high level, and so I think Billy Winn can play for a long time in the NFL."
■ NOTES - Winn is one of three Las Vegans expected to be drafted. The others are former Arizona wide receiver Juron Criner (Canyon Springs High) and former UNR linebacker Brandon Marshall (Cimarron-Memorial). ... No UNLV players are projected to be drafted. Wide receiver Phillip Payne, kick returner Deante Purvis and defensive end James Dunlap are the best bets to sign as free agents if they aren't selected.
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.
