Get to Know Florida State's Jameis Winston

While you were busy watching Johnny Manziel down in College Station, or marveling at the way Oregon puts up points with hardly any effort, or worrying about how voters could put eight SEC teams in the latest poll, you may have missed one of the greatest stories and talents in this 2013 edition of college football.

His name is Jameis Winston and he is the quarterback of the fifth-ranked Florida State Seminoles.

The definition of a stud, Winston has propelled Florida State back to the glory days of the Bowden era and also made a few highlight reel plays in right field for the FSU baseball team this past spring.

Winston and the 'Noles are fresh off a 63-0 beat down of  #25 Maryland, the largest defeat of a Top 25 team ever. Now, they take their 5-0 record into Death Valley to face a Clemson team that has already knocked off #5 Georgia in Memorial Stadium. It's the biggest test yet for the redshirt freshman quarterback who is vying for the Heisman after his torrid start.

FSU has hardly been challenged this season with an offense that scores the third-most points and a defense that gives up the third-fewest points. That's a combination better than peanut butter and jelly. However, Florida State is about to be challenged more than ever tomorrow night in one of the nation's toughest stadiums to play in.

Winston must be at his best. What is his best? Okay, let's pick one of these stat lines and determine it.

September 2 @ Pitt: 25-27 - 356 yards - 4 TD - 0 INT
September 28 @ Boston College: 17-27 - 330 yards - 4 TD - 1 INT
October 5 vs. Maryland: 23-32 - 393 yards - 5 TD - 0 INT

He has had no problem chucking the pigskin around the yard and after the Maryland game even said it felt like a little league game. It has come that easy to him. Yet he is facing a defense tomorrow night that is ninth in the nation and surrenders just 16 points per game. This is where Heisman moments are made.

Florida State has not won in Death Valley since 2001 and Winston will be looking to solidify his Heisman candidacy and also put his Seminoles firmly in the national title picture. Should he win college football's most prestigious award, he would be the second freshman to do so. We all know the first: Manziel.

There is little reason to question why Winston couldn't win the Heisman. After all, his numbers through five games are better than Manziel's were last year. Manziel was 104-150  (69% completion percentage) with 1,285 yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions. Winston is currently 90-123 (73% completion percentage) with 1,441 yards, 17 touchdowns and two interceptions. Winston doesn't run the ball like Manziel, nor does FSU run the same up-tempo offense as A&M which would allow him to, but he has rushed for 135 yards and two scores.

Despite all of that, a game like Saturday's is where a freshman can get lost. The crowd will be loud and the lights will be bright, but these are the situations where stars are made. Jameis Winston has all the makings of being a star. Time to recognize.