Top FSU Football Players Under Jimbo Fisher: No. 2
By Jason Parker
FSU football has had some great talent over the time Jimbo Fisher has been head coach – here’s another one of the 10 best during his tenure.
It was nearly seven and a half yeas ago that everything changed for FSU football. After almost three and a half decades under the leadership of legendary head coach Bobby Bowden, it was time to hand the keys over to Jimbo Fisher – who had spent the previous three seasons as the offensive coordinator and “head coach in waiting”.
Since that time, the Seminoles have come back from the time known as the “lost decade” from many and turned the program back into a perennial winner over Fisher’s seven seasons in charge. It’s a tenure that has included ACC titles, a national championship and countless award winners and All-Americans who reminded the country that Florida State was indeed back.
Of the hundreds of players who have suited up in the garnet and gold under Fisher, which ones have been the best of the best? It’s not an easy question considering all the talent that has come through Tallahassee. In compiling our top 10 list of the best FSU football players under Fisher, countless players who brought home honors and ended up in the pros didn’t make the cut – showing you the amount of talent that is on the list.
Without further ado, here’s another of the top Seminoles during the Jimbo Fisher era.
Florida State Seminoles Football
No. 2 – Jameis Winston, QB (2012-2014)
By now, the secret is out that Fisher loves him some quarterbacks, dating back to his time as an assistant in the SEC and continuing during his time in Tallahassee. Prior to the 2012 season, Fisher and assistant Dameyune Craig went up to Hueytown, Alabama and convinced the top dual threat quarterback in the country that Tallahassee was the place for him. Indeed, Winston’s time in Tallahassee may have been shorter than the others, but he made the most of it.
After redshirting during the 2012 season, Fisher beat out Jacob Coker for the starting spot entering 2013 and made quite the entrance. In his opening game on national TV against Pittsburgh, Winston went 25 of 27 for 356 yards and four touchdowns, adding another one on the ground. His first season under center would be one to remember, going for 4,057 yards in the air along with 40 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in leading the Seminoles to their third national championship (won on his 20th birthday). For his work, Winston brought home truckloads of awards, including the Heisman, Davey O’Brien, Walter Camp and being named a consensus All-American.
In 2014, Winston’s numbers took a slight dip – and he missed one game due to a suspension – but he still threw for over 3,900 yards while adding 25 touchdowns through the air in leading FSU football to their third straight ACC title and a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff. Winston turned pro after the season, becoming the first top overall pick from FSU when the Tamp Bay Bucs took him in the 2015 NFL Draft.
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While Winston may never get all the national love due to several off field issues, he will nonetheless be thought of as one of the best to play football for the Seminoles.