The Bar Is High For Starting Florida State Quarterback Jameis Winston
By Kyle Kensing
April 13, 2013; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during the second half of the Florida State spring game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Jimbo Fisher validated months of assumptions that freshman Jameis Winston would take over as the starting Florida State quarterback.
Brandon Mellor of Seminoles.com reports that Fisher named Winston the starter for FSU’s season opener, Sept. 2 against Atlantic Coast Conference newcomer Pittsburgh.
The end of speculation means the beginning of expectations for the highly touted Winston. He takes over not only in a era when dual-threat quarterbacks are changing the game, or just a season removed from a first-year signal caller winning the Heisman Trophy.
Jameis Winston is up against not only his contemporaries, but the illustrious history of Florida State Seminoles football.
Comparisons to Charlie Ward picked up steam in spring practices, when columnists and TV analysts ran with the narrative. Indeed, there are similarities to glean.
Winston is an outstanding rusher, but hasn’t shown a need to rely on that as his primary weapon. Reports from Seminole practices are his arm is strong and accurate.
Ward was an outstanding rusher, but also one of the best passers in the nation.
Winston is a two-sport star. He could pursue Major League Baseball if football doesn’t work out.
Ward was a two-sport star. At a time when NFL GMs were unwilling to draft dual-threat quarterbacks, he followed a path through the NBA. He spent 11 years in the league before retiring in 2005.
Coincidentally, the 2013 season marks the 20th anniversary of Ward’s Heisman Trophy run. Ward was the forerunner to play makers like Robert Griffin III and Johnny Manziel. He averaged better than five yards per rush and scored four touchdowns on the ground, but was even better passing.
Ward threw for over 3000 yards in an era when teams ran fewer plays and thus accrued lesser statistics. To wit, Heisman runner up Heath Shuler passed for almost 700 yards less than Ward.
The Seminole quarterback also completed over 69 percent of his attempts, scored 27 touchdowns and was intercepted four times.
In other words, he had one of the greatest seasons of all-time. Is it fair to expect the same of Winston?
The answer is of course not. Ward was a senior, surrounded by one of the most talented rosters in the last 20 years. The 2013 Seminoles are talented, but Winston isn’t the only youngster. FSU returns just 10 total starters, six of whom are on the offense.
But that doesn’t mean the expectations won’t be there. Why, SaturdayBlitz.com’s own preseason Heisman Top 25 had Jameis Winston tabbed at No. 21, a full two months before he was even named starter.
Needless to say, his arrival is highly anticipated.