Jameis Winston Claims He Will Play Baseball for FSU in 2015

After a disappointing 59-20 loss in the Rose Bowl, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston announced he'd play baseball for the Seminoles in 2015.

Cork Gaines of Business Insider reported the news:

"

Jameis Winston just said he will play baseball this spring. Minor detail. But means he won't be prepping 24/7 for draft.

— Cork Gaines (@CorkGaines) January 2, 2015"

Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times provided Winston's response to a question about the NFL draft:

Despite seeing his team's 29-game winning streak snapped at the hands of Oregon on Thursday, Winston still fared rather well on the big stage. Last year's Heisman Trophy winner went 29-of-45 passing for 348 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.

It's understandable Winston would say the following after such a demoralizing defeat, via The Washington Post's Adam Kilgore:

Winston has excelled as a pitcher during his time in Tallahassee, compiling a 2-2 record with a 1.95 ERA in two seasons (h/t TheBaseballCube.com), and showed significant improvement as a sophomore last year.

Being a two-sport star in top-level NCAA athletics is a demanding commitment. It will be interesting to see how Winston's decision impacts his 2015 NFL draft stock, should he decide to go pro.

Although Winston might have a future in baseball, he has a real chance to be a top-10 pick in the forthcoming NFL draft. Only his Rose Bowl counterpart, Marcus Mariota, stands a chance to be the first quarterback selected.

With the amount of time Winston has had to put in to digest a complex, pro-style offense under Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher, football would appear to be his most viable path as a professional athlete.

However, the lack of viable, franchise-caliber QB alternatives in this draft class may afford Winston the flexibility to play baseball without harming his stock too much.