FSU Football: Top Five Recruiting Gifts of the Jimbo Fisher Era
By Ty Ragans
Jameis Winston
Not just anyone can go into Alabama and pull elite talent away from Nick Saban, but Jimbo Fisher did just that in the biggest recruiting victory of his career. Not only is Jameis Winston the biggest recruiting victory of the Fisher era, but he’s the greatest quarterback to ever play for Noles. Ultimately if you ask Jameis, he chose FSU over Stanford.
The five-star quarterback had a great relationship with fellow Alabama native and then FSU quarterback coach Dameyune Craig which was a big factor in Jameis’ decision to head to Tallahassee and play quarterback for Jimbo Fisher.
Even as a redshirt in 2012, Jameis’s leadership qualities were evident as he was always encouraging his teammates on the sideline. When EJ Manuel left for the NFL, Jameis seized his opportunity starting with an impressive showing in the Spring game. While FSU fans were excited about the spring game performance, there was no way to know what Jameis Winston would soon become.
On Labor day night in Pittsburgh to open the 2013 season, it didn’t take long to become evident that FSU football had something special in Winston. Winston finished the Pitt game 25/27 for 356 yards and four touchdowns, adding one more touchdown on the ground. That night Jameis introduced himself to the college football world and the rest is history.
That season Jameis went on to throw for 4,057 yards and 40 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions winning the schools third Heisman trophy and eventually leading the Noles to a thrilling come behind victory against Auburn in the last ever BCS Championship. In 2014 Jameis was not surrounded by as much experience but still put the team on his back and led them to a birth in the inaugural college football playoff where FSU eventually lost to Oregon in the semi-finals.
Jimbo Fisher has one some big time recruiting battles in his time as head coach for FSU football, but none have been bigger than that of Jameis Winston.