MIAMI _ Perhaps no one but Kellen Winslow II knows for sure when his deep dive began from beloved University of Miami football star to alleged rapist, but anyone aware of Winslow's situation realizes he's a troubled soul.
This is the man who captured the nation's attention in 2003 for his post-loss "(F-ing) soldier" locker room rant. The man who declared it was "war" after injuring a Tennessee player with a legal block and angrily continued that "It's about this U, man! ... I'm pissed, man! We don't care about nobody except this U!" is still fighting.
Except now, in a Vista, Calif., trial that began Monday, Winslow is battling allegations of three rapes and multiple sex-related crimes that could put him away for life. The trial, drawing plenty of attention on the west coast, is being aired live by Court TV "gavel to gavel."
"Forget volatile," said legendary Hurricanes running backs coach Don Soldinger, 74, who grew to love Winslow during his playing days from 2001 through 2003 and reconnected with him in 2015 when Winslow received news that he would be inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. "He was ELITE in capital letters. A great ballplayer, man. Great attitude. Always worked hard. Never in any trouble.
"Maybe it's true, but it's hard to believe. It just doesn't sound like Kellen, doesn't sound like the same person. I mean, I love the kid."
Winslow, 35, the former first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns, 2003 Mackey Award winner as the best college tight end in America and son of Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow Sr., pleaded not guilty to 12 charges, including two alleged rapes last year, one alleged rape from when he was 19 and home on summer break from UM and several relatively recent alleged sex-related crimes involving middle-aged or elderly women.
The defense argued earlier this week that the sex was consensual and that Winslow _ married in his early 20s to a childhood sweetheart, and the father of an 8-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter _ had "cheated" on his wife "numerous times" but was not a rapist. "It was sex," said Winslow's attorney Brian Watkins. "No-strings-attached sex.
"It's wrong, immoral, but it's not illegal," said Watkins, whose defense has painted Winslow as a victim of women who are out for money or just mistook his identity _ unlike what many thought would be a defense that hinged on brain trauma or potential Chronic Traumatic Encephelopathy (CTE) caused by years of physical pounding. "When you're in the spotlight, people want things from you.'
Five women are listed as victims. Winslow was arrested last year after authorities tied him to two alleged break-ins at the home of a 71-year-old woman and 86-year-old woman in Encinitas, Calif., his hometown north of San Diego. He also is accused of raping a 54-year-old hitchhiker _ identified in the trial as Jane Doe No. 1 _ 14 months ago in a shopping center parking lot and threatening to kill her if she told anyone. She reportedly refused to be examined but gave police the blood-stained pants and underwear she wore, and prosecutor Dan Owens said DNA tests found traces of Winslow's semen. That woman misidentified Winslow during a two-day preliminary hearing last August. And in testimony Tuesday, she contradicted herself and included baffling statements describing the details of the alleged attack.
Winslow also is accused of raping a 59-year-old homeless woman (described as Jane Doe No. 2) in Encinitas in May 2018 after he pulled up in his black Hummer and said he would take her for some coffee, then drove awhile, pulled her out of the car and allegedly assaulted her while choking her and threatening her life.
Another woman (described as Jane Doe No. 4) accused Winslow of raping her at a house party when he was 19 and she was 17.
Yet another accuser (Jane Doe No. 3) is one of Winslow's neighbors who said he pulled down his pants and exposed his erect penis to her last May while she was gardening, according to Owens, who said police found a backpack at his house that she had described, along with GPS information that tied him to the area of the alleged incident.
While he was out on $2 million bail, Winslow was arrested for lewd conduct after a 77-year-old woman said he exposed himself to her at a gym on two occasions this past February and masturbated in front of her in a hot tub, Owens said. He has been jailed without bail since then.
The trial is expected to last a few weeks.
