The guy is a winner. Even yours truly went cold on Winston for a while but game after game Winston (and Dalvin Cook) found a way to lead Florida State to yet another improbable win. Jameis showed a great deal of sportsmanship and leadership in how he handled the playoff loss at the hands of the Oregon Ducks as much of his Nole teammates hightailed it for the locker rooms. Just that image alone of Jameis respectfully congratulating Marcus Mariota and Oregon went a long way in repairing his image.

Jameis leaves FSU with a 66% completion rate, 65 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions. With no major passing issues other than addressing his tendency to throw picks in the middle of the field (something Cam Newton has never fixed) Jameis stands to be a top 3 pick in the upcoming 2015 Draft. It just remains to be seen if the Tennessee Titans will find Jameis worthy of the selection given his extra baggage.

We will find out in approximately 10 days if Winston will continue to be enrolled as a student at Florida State. Conveniently this makes him continue to be eligible for Saturday’s ACC Championship.

(CNN) — Just days before the Florida State Seminoles play for the ACC football championship, star quarterback Jameis Winston is appearing before a panel that can decide whether he will continue as a student at the university.

It’s been almost two years since the Heisman Trophy winner was accused of sexually assaulting a then-FSU student. Winston was not arrested in connection with the alleged December 2012 incident, but he still could be charged by his university with a code-of-conduct violation for sexual misconduct, depending on the results of the school’s investigation.

He could face a wide range of sanctions if he is found to have violated the student conduct code: from a reprimand or counseling to probation, suspension or expulsion.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/02/us/jameis-winston-fsu-hearing/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Will Jameis get kicked out of school or will the Teflon Don continue to make us scratch our heads as he slides by another controversy? Find out all those answers and more on the next episode…

Last Thursday night his team fell behind at Louisville by 20 points and the young quarterback did nothing short of exceed all expectations. Even after throwing two interceptions, suffering a nasty ankle sprain, and getting hit by blitzers all night, Jameis stood tall with poise and marched his team back for the improbable win.

Yes, freshman running back Dalvin Cook was also a huge part of why Florida State won (he was practically untouched on 109 yards and two scores) but it started with Winston. Winston calmly executed a quick passing offense to neutralize the blitz once he was injured. That combined with Cook’s electric scampers sealed the deal.

In my mind such a performance could have only come from a player who has “it.” And Jameis has it. Where most quarterbacks would sulk or panic after throwing two picks and getting injured Jameis simply executed the offense with no signs of peril. Say what you want about the guy but he’s simply the kid of stone cold competitor any team wants.

There are still pauses for concern over his immature outbursts (FHRITP!), shoplifting, and interactions with a female student but I think a NFL team will sell themselves on him. I had the same concerns about Cameron Newton coming into the pros and everything worked out for him just fine. As long as Jameis goes to a team with veteran leadership in place to teach him how to be a professional he should be fine.

You’ll see Jameis back in my new mock draft, likely ahead of the Conner Cook and Brett Hundley’s of this draft. There are great prospects in this draft, and then there is the undefeated Heisman trophy winning, crab leg grabbing, post game speech giving Jameis Winston.

Does an innocent man doesn’t act like this? Big time concerns for an NFL franchise in my opinion.

Remember all the character issue concerns with Cam Newton allegedly cashing a few checks? Jameis isn’t even feeling the media fire and is reacting like this. He likely won’t ever really feel that media flame. For some reason ESPN has decided to not pursue this story as intently as the Newton story. Winning is the best media protection.

@heatherespn your actions after the game w my client were inappropriate and unprofessional. Ur actions were deliberate.

— Tim Jansen (@rtimjansen) December 8, 2013

@heatherespn when u realize ur actions were improper u can make amends. Please write me a note to Jameis and his family to apologize.

— Tim Jansen (@rtimjansen) December 8, 2013

Loving @heatherespn tonight. #notafraid

— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) December 8, 2013

Winston is the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and will likely be the #1 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

UPDATE: State attorney Willie Meggs confirms Jameis Winston will not be charged due to lack of evidence.

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 5, 2013

This should be a warning to all young athletes. If you are going to do something with a young lady, you better be sure she is 100% down. Even if she seems cool with it, you never know what could happen weeks down the road. Be 100% or don’t do it. Jameis could have saved himself a world of stress by simply choosing a different lady to spend time with.

I’m not saying he’s innocent because, frankly, he isn’t. Something happened in that room and we’ll never know. We just know that the state of Flordia feels there is no need to pursue criminal charges.

Hopefully this is the last time we’ll hear of Jameis in a negative light and he can continue his career with this behind him.

CBS is reporting all sorts of bad news. Jenkins even needs screws inserted in his leg to heal from the injury:

Florida State defensive end Brandon Jenkins, a two-time All-ACC selection, will miss the rest of the 2012 season due to a left foot injury, a source told CBS Monday night.

Jenkins is believed to have suffered a Lisfranc injury between the second and third metatarsal bones of his foot, a second source told CBSSports.com senior writer Dennis Dodd. Two or three screws will be inserted to the foot to promote healing.

As far as the draft goes this is very early. If Jenkins decides to go through the combine process then we’ll get a good look at his numbers and see how well he heals up.

Florida State may become the 14th school in the SEC once Texas A&M joins the conference.  The super conferences are becoming real folks…. Here are the details

Andy Haggard, chairman of FSU’s board of trustees, told the Palm Beach Post Tuesday that the school is in the process of forming a committee (not pictured) that will explore FSU’s options as it pertains to future conference affiliation.  Those options would apparently include remaining in the ACC or moving to the SEC if enough conference dominoes tumble.

Source: PFT

 

I am not a big fan of super conferences.  The way the NCAA is already setup only 6 conferences get a legit shot to be the “national” champion in this BCS.  I’ve posted far too many rants on the BCS and how they and these schools are taking advantage of free labor and kid’s dreams.  Now they are pushing more of the smaller conferences and schools out of the “circle” which is going to have a trickle down effect on recruiting, revenues, and the so called National Title.

The BCS schools can do whatever they like.  Until we get a playoff system the National Title really doesn’t mean jack if everyone can’t win it.

Anyways, I was able to compile the best recaps from around the web and post them here for us all to enjoy.

Thank you to the writers of these wonderful pieces:

• Scott Wright’s week at the Senior Bowl
• Bobby Christensen at Bleacher Report gives you his sleepers from the game
• John Lorge gives you 20 instant takeaways from the game
• Doug Fararr of Yahoo! recaps Christian Ponder’s big game

I want to thank these guys for taking to time to write their thoughts on the game for those of use that couldn’t watch it live.  I’m going to try to watch a recording of the game ASAP.

If you can help me in any way, let me know!

Now keep in mind that there is a lot of football left to be played. A lot of these guys could end up completely shattering expectations, or fizzing out the rest of the way. But for right now, here is where I have them.

1. Ryan Mallett – QB Arkansas

Even though he had that bad second half vs. Alabama I still have to rank him #1.  At 6’7 and over 240 lbs. he is the biggest QB prospect since Jamarcus Russell.  I know, not exactly a compliment but Mallett has an NFL arm and is making tough throws right now.  He plays in a pass happy offense so he also throws a lot more picks than you’d like to see but all in all no one in the nation is outplaying Mallett right now.

Yoo! Im going to the 49ers!

2. Andrew Luck- QB Stanford

Andrew Luck was a very interesting prospect going into the season.  I personally wanted to see what he could do without Toby Gerhart behind him.  Well all he did was throw for 1200 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions so far this year with a 62% completion rate.  He struggled in the second half against Oregon and threw two picks during that game, but all in all he has the accuracy and poise you look for in any prospect.

3. (Tie) Christian Ponder- QB Florida State, Jake Locker- QB Washington

I almost don’t want to rank him here because of how slow he started the season.  Needless to say, CP7ForHeisman.com became pretty obselete quickly as Ponder threw for 117 yards and 2 interceptions vs. Oklahoma.  On top of that he had a 39% completion rate in the game. Ouch.  Ponder bounced back with over a 64% completion rate in the next two games.  His stock is still relatively hot because Ponder has all the talent in the world and the mobility to make any NFL team interested.

Then there is Locker, who has all the physical talent in the world but no signature moments or big games to display it so far.  Yes, he beat USC once (this seasons game with USC Washington won as well but Locker was injured) but that has been about it.  He really has not put it all together in a big time passing display.

You also have to go back to the 4/20 completion rate against Nebraska and wonder if Locker is really on the same level passing the ball as the other top prospects.  To this Broncos fan, Jake Locker reminds me all too well of one Jay Cutler.

Nick Foles has a 74% completion rate this season

4. Nick Foles – QB Arizona

Foles is a junior and should stay in school to cement his selection as the first QB taken in 2012.  But if he takes a page from Jevan Snead’s playbook and comes out early, he will find a suitor on day one in the draft.  Foles has thrown for an amazing 74% completion rate so far.  The 6 touchdown to 4 interception rate has to get better though.