NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made it official Thursday night in Chicago as he read that Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston had been selected first overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Winston becomes the first player from Florida State ever to be taken with the top overall pick.
Often plagued by off-the-field controversy, Winston passed for nearly 8,000 yards in his two years as the starting quarterback at Florida State while posting a career completion rate of better than 66 percent and throwing for 65 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. Over his two years, the FSU quarterback notched a 26-1 record as a starter, leading the Seminoles to two ACC titles and the 2013 national championship.
After passing for more than 3,800 yards and 38 touchdowns through 13 games in 2013, Winston became the youngest player and only the second freshman ever to win the Heisman Trophy. On his 20th birthday, Winston engineered the biggest comeback in BCS title game history, leading the Seminoles from 18 points down to defeat Auburn 34-31.
As a sophomore, Winston’s numbers dropped as he threw 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, but still managed to lead Florida State to a second straight perfect regular season and conference title. Winston passed for 348 yards and a touchdown in a 59-20 Rose Bowl loss to Oregon on New Year’s Day in what would be the final game of his FSU career.
Prior to Thursday night, the highest Seminole ever selected in the NFL Draft had been defensive end Andre Wadsworth, who went third overall to the Arizona Cardinals in 1998.
Winston becomes the fifth No. 1 selection of the Buccaneers joining Hall of Fame linebacker Lee Roy Selmon, running backs Ricky Bell and Bo Jackson and quarterback Vinny Testaverde.
Most consider Winston to be the frontrunner for the starting quarterback job in Tampa Bay as he will battle third-year man Mike Glennon. Winston is set to make his Buccaneers’ debut in the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings on August 15th. Tampa Bay opens the regular season at home against the Tennessee Titans on September 13th.
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