Best Florida State football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore – From Primetime to Famous Jameis
By Kelvin Hunt
Jameis Winston, quarterback
His NFL career and some off the field distractions may make it hard to remember how great Jameis Winston was in the garnet and gold. The former No. 1 overall draft pick is without a team after starting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the past five seasons while setting multiple NFL and franchise records. Winston only played two seasons at FSU, compiling a 26-1 record as a starter, the lone loss coming in his final college game against Oregon in the inaugural College Football Playoff.
Winston led Florida State football to an undefeated record and national title as a redshirt freshman in 2013 while becoming the youngest Heisman Trophy winner ever. He was named the 2013 ACC Offensive Player of the Year and ACC Player of the Year to go along with winning the AP Player of the Year Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Manning Award, and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. He was also named as a Consensus All-American while leading an offense that’s arguably the best college offense ever.
He’s No. 3 on the FSU all-time career passing yards list. Winston’s two seasons of 4,057 and 3,907 yards are ranked No. 2 and No. 3 on the single-season for passing yards behind Chris Weinke’s 4,167 yards. It should be noted Winston would have crushed Weinke’s total had he not sat on the sidelines during the second halves of blowout wins in 2013. He’s No.2 on the all-time FSU passing touchdowns list, just 14 behind Weinke in only two years.
Winston never lost to Florida or Miami and also played on the FSU baseball team as its closer.