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These days, when people hear the name the Jameis Winston they think about the journeyman NFL quarterback that has become as much a meme as he is a serious player.
But that wasn’t always the case!
In fact, there was a time when Winston was at the center of the football world.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Winston with the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft after his immense success at Florida State University.
But prior to even arriving at Florida State, the Alabama native was a big name.
Winston was one of the top recruits in the country in both football and baseball in the high school class of 2012. Ultimately, he committed to the Seminoles over offers from just about every school in the country, including the home state Alabama Crimson Tide.
Fast forward more than a decade and Winston’s younger brother Jonah, who won’t graduate high school until 2026, just picked up a scholarship offer of his own from Nick Saban and the Tide.
The younger Winston spoke with Brandon Howard of Tide Illustrated about the offer and what it meant to him.
“The offer meant a great deal to me, I honestly didn’t expect it, but I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity. Heading into the season, I didn’t know what to expect, but I just did my best to be the best teammate possible and play my role,” Winston said. I guess it worked out in my favor, but at the same time, I know the work does not stop.” – via Tide Illustrated
He also spoke about the advantages of having an older brother who went through the same process.
“I have been lucky enough to have my brother to lean on during this process. He has taught me a lot, but at the same time, I need to continue to develop my body and continue to let things play out. It’s still super early, so I take things in stride,” he said.
Winston is listed at 5-foot-10, 160 pounds and plays quarterback for Alabama powerhouse Hoover High.