Jameis Winston has confirmed what has been suspected for some time: he will not return to Florida State next season, instead entering the NFL Draft.
“After weighing this decision with my family and friends, I have decided to declare for the 2015 NFL Draft and forgo my remaining eligibility at Florida State,” the FSU quarterback said in the statement. “I reached this very difficult decision after careful consideration and long thought, realizing how difficult it would be to say goodbye to my family at Florida State. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to wear the garnet and gold and have greatly enjoyed my time as a Seminole, both as an athlete and a student in the classroom.”
Winston is widely rated as the second-best quarterback in this year’s draft, behind Oregon’s Marcus Mariota. A number of teams towards the top of the draft have a need at quarterback, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Jets.
Some see Winston as a more NFL ready quarterback than Mariota, and he was 26-1 as the FSU starter, leading them to the national championship last season.
“I will always take pride in leading our team back to national prominence and am confident that my returning team-mates will continue the success for many years to come,” said Winston.
However, some teams may be wary of selecting Winston as the face of their franchise due to off-field issues. He was accused of sexual assault during his time at FSU, although he was not charged and a student code of conduct hearing found there was not enough evidence to discipline Winston over the allegation. The alleged victim has since filed a lawsuit against FSU, saying that the university failed to investigate the incident properly. Winston was also suspended for one game after shouting obscenities in a campus dining room.
