Is Jameis Winston Already the Best Quarterback in Florida State History?

Is all the hoopla over Florida State freshman quarterback Jameis Winston legit, or instead is he just another short-lived media sensation?

In other words, is he the kid who destroyed No. 25 Maryland and No. 3 Clemson in back-to-back weeks, or instead is he the guy who completed 52 percent of his passes versus FCS Bethune-Cookman?

According to David M. Hale of ESPN, here’s what legendary Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden had to say about Winston:

"

This young man is as good as anybody we’ve ever had.  Maybe as a freshman, that’s asking too much, but before he leaves here – and he might do it this year.

"

What?

After only seven games the young “Famous Jameis” has already proven that he’s better than two Heisman Trophy winners and two first-round NFL draft picks?

Really?

In Winston’s case it’s easy to let the numbers speak for themselves, stats that scream unprecedented success through his first seven starts as a collegian.

	Yr	Comp	Att	%	Yds	TD	INT
Winston	2013	128	183	69.9	2,177	23	4

How good are Winston’s numbers? To compare, take a look at the statistics of seven of Florida State’s best-ever quarterbacks in their first year as the starter. Remember, these are total-season numbers as opposed to Winston’s seven-game marks.

	Yr	Comp	Att	%	Yds	TD	INT
Weldon	1991	189	313	60.4	2,527	22	8
Ward	1992	204	365	55.9	2,647	22	17
Kanell	1994	227	380	59.7	2,781	17	13
Weinke	1998	145	286	50.7	2,487	19	6
Rix	2001	165	286	57.7	2,734	24	13
Ponder	2008	177	318	55.7	2,006	14	13
Manuel	2011	203	311	65.3	2,666	18	8

Though each of these guys may have posted better numbers later in their careers, these stats represent their respective “opening salvos,” which is directly comparable to Winston, who never took a college snap until Sept. 2 at Pitt.

With just seven games complete, Winston has already thrown for more yards than Christian Ponder did in 13 games as a first-year starter in 2008.

Furthermore, he sits just 300 to 600 yards short of the other six guys with another half-season left to play.

What’s even more stunning is that Winston’s 23 touchdown passes (again in only seven starts) trumps the rest of the group minus one.

Only Chris Rix had more as a freshman, with 24 in 2001. But again, Rix took 11 games to get there as opposed to Winston, who still technically has seven games left to play.

Taking it up a notch, here’s what Winston is on track to do before 2013—his freshman season—is over.  These numbers take his average stats in each category and multiply them by seven, the number of regular-season games the ‘Noles have remaining plus the ACC title game and a bowl game.

These are added to Winston’s totals thus far this season and Voila!—the final tally.

	Yr	Comp	Att	%	Yds	TD	INT
Winston	2013	256	366	69.9	4,354	46	8

These numbers blow away the competition, and to put a finer point on it, take a look at how Winston’s projected stats as a freshman stack up with each previous Florida State star quarterback’s BEST season.

	Yr	Comp	Att	%	Yds	TD	INT
Weldon	1991	189	313	60.4	2,527	22	8
Ward	1993	264	380	69.5	3,032	27	4
Kanell	1995	257	402	63.9	2,957	32	13
Weinke	2000	266	431	61.7	4,167	33	11
Rix	2003	216	382	56.5	3,107	23	13
Ponder	2009	227	330	68.8	2,717	14	7
Manuel	2012	263	387	68.0	3,397	23	10

If Winston stays on track, he’ll surpass the other seven Seminole greats in yards, completion percentage and touchdown passes.

As a freshman he’ll have thrown for more yards and more touchdowns than Chris Weinke and Charlie Ward did in their Heisman seasons.

If Winston hits his projected marks, he’ll break two NCAA FBS records. He’ll surpass Corey Robinson’s 3,726 passing yards at Troy in 2010 to become the most prolific freshman passer in yards and he’ll blow away Sam Bradford’s record of 36 touchdown passes by a freshman at Oklahoma in 2007.

Not only is Winston the best quarterback—at least statistically speaking—in Florida State history, he also is on track to become one of the greatest freshman quarterbacks in the history of the game.

What will cement Winston’s place in Florida State football lore will come down to what he and the rest of the 2013 Seminoles can do with the five games remaining on their schedule and then in the postseason.

If Winston can make a run at the Heisman, and more importantly lead Florida State to the national championship game, there will be no doubt of his place in history.

Statistics courtesy of Sports Reference College Football and ESPN.  NCAA records via the FBS Record Book.