Should Jameis Winston be leading the Heisman race?
Anytime anyone reaches the pantheon of their craft, they will always have competitors willing to take their place. For the person at the top of their craft, if they do not get complacent, they normally relish and rise to the occasion to achieve even more than before. Rising to the challenge and excelling to new heights is what success is about.
Last year in college football Florida State starting quarterback Jameis Winston won the Heisman Trophy in his freshman year. This year his team is a lot less talented and he is still showing why he is in the running for the Heisman Trophy.
How many quarterbacks can say they are having a better season than Jameis Winston?
Brett Hundley and Marcus Mariota each have losses to teams who were unranked when they played against each other. Connor Holiday plays for an offense that is a one trick pony. While Sean Mannion is…well, Sean Mannion.
We can even name running backs. Melvin Gordon is a beast, just like Todd Gurley, but their teams don’t have enough success to place them with enough standing for the Heisman Trophy.
The only other person who will give Winston competition is Texas A&M starting quarterback Kenny Hill (man he is impressive to watch).
People can say that he conceded this year’s Heisman because of his off the field antics, but though Winston has had a bunch of shortcomings (don’t we all?) he still manages to rally his troops like one of the greatest leaders I’ve ever seen.
So lets look past his faults and shortcomings (unless we hold a mirror to ourselves first) and for a second lets pretend we’re in math class. Like a calculator, we are going to talk numbers.
On the season, Winston has 1,288 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions with a 66.7 completion percentage. His stats are nowhere near gaudy, but I see it like this….
During the first four games of the 2013 season compared to this season Winston has thrown for more yards, he has the same amount of rushing touchdowns (two) and his completion percentage is a fraction worse than last year’s average. Did I mention, he hasn’t lost a game in almost two years?
So again I ask, what other quarterback is doing this?
The main reason this team hasn’t lost a game yet is because of Winston.
Florida State is not as talented as last season. One of the most glaring stats I saw was the passing attempts that Winston has had during his first four games. Winston has had to throw the football 27 times or more every game he’s played in this year. In his first four games in 2013 he threw for 27 passes one time.
He has already led a comeback against the NC State Wolfpack on the road where he threw for 365 yards, completed 26-of-38 passes and had four touchdown passes.
Next game against the Syracuse Orangemen on the road, Florida State is going to get the best effort from the 2-3 team. Though Syracuse has a losing record, they are going to want to play the role of giant killers and create one of the biggest upsets in college football.
That’s my next point. Taking everyone’s best effort requires a focus and dedication from the leader of the football team (Winston), that few quarterbacks in college football have today.
The pressure around this young man is like no other quarterback in college has to face. Enduring a countless number of trials and tribulations during his time in Tallahasee, Winston still has to manage to deal with the pressures of winning another National Championship for Florida State. Being labeled as the face of a university at 20 years old is difficult for anyone.
We need to relish in the fact that Winston is a winner and continues to grow everyday as a quarterback. Though like all of us, he makes mistakes from time to time, he still puts his cleats on one foot at time and walks into his destiny on the football field and kills his competition. With him under center, I don’t ever expect to see an upset game, or any type of surprise because I have seen him now defeat 18 straight opponents.
If Florida State wins out all of their regular season games, Winston will have a 25-0 record as a starter.
Now name a starting quarterback in college football (Heisman Trophy winners too) that has an undefeated record.
More from FanSided
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers land Amed Rosario from Guardians
- Colorado gives Pac-12 a possible death knell with move to Big 12
- NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook suitor maintaining very ‘real’ interest
- Braves get dose of bad news on Max Fried as ace nears return
- LA Galaxy vs. Club Leon Leagues Cup match rescheduled for July 26