Following a nearly unprecedented redshirt freshman season, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has won the 2013 Heisman Memorial Trophy.
This season, Winston transformed the Seminoles from an ACC title contender into the number one team in the nation behind the strength of his arm and the top defense in the country backing him up. Defensively, Florida State only allowed 10.7 points per game and with Winston and the offense being consistent all season, FSU quickly became a powerhouse.
The Hueytown, Alabama resident came to Tallahassee in 2012 with extremely high expectations as Rivals.com ranked him as the top quarterback in the 2012 class.
After redshirting in 2012, Winston hit the field against Pittsburgh for his college debut, and he became an instant Heisman contender and established his moniker “Famous Jameis” in the process. He completed a remarkably 25 out of 27 pass attempts, compiling 356 yards and four touchdowns. Also, he had no interceptions and also ran for another touchdown on the ground as he dismantled the Panthers in a 41-13 victory.
Of course, the question following that masterful performance is would he be able to repeat that production over a weekly basis.
That answer was a resounding yes.
Winston continued his one-man demolishing of college football, and silenced any remaining critics when he led FSU to a victory over #3 Clemson.
The Seminoles had not faced much of a test at the time over the course of the season, and the first major challenge for the freshman looked like it would come against the Tigers. Winston then preceded to pick apart Clemson’s defense en route to a 51-14 rout of the ACC foe. Winston accounted for 444 passing yards and three touchdowns in that contest. In a game that was supposed to rattle the field general, Winston came out of Death Valley with a resounding win and the Heisman in a stranglehold.
As for the rest of the season, Winston and the Seminoles did not trip up. FSU finished the regular season with a 12-0 mark, and beat the upstart Duke Blue Devils to win the ACC Championship and clinch their trip to Pasadena to play Auburn in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game on January 6.
Jameis Winston won the Heisman tonight, and if he were to win the BCS Championship it would put a fitting end to arguably one of the greatest freshman seasons in college football history.