In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.
Jameis Winston, No. 14 in 2012 class
Winston came out of Hueytown High in Alabama as a highly coveted quarterback by the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Stanford, UCLA and many others. He signed with Florida State due in large part to a strong bond with lead recruiter and then-Seminoles assistant Dameyune Craig over home-state Alabama. Winston was part of a Florida State top-5 class that included Mario Edwards Jr., Eddie Goldman, P.J. Williams, Ronald Darby and Roberto Aguayo, among others.
After redshirting in 2012, Winston won the starting job over current Alabama backup Jacob Coker. He then put together one of the very best freshman seasons in history, leading Florida State to the BCS National Championship and a perfect 14-0 record. After passing for 4,057 yards and 40 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, Winston racked up the honors: 2013 Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, Manning Award, Archie Griffin Award, AP Player of the Year, consensus All-American and first-team All-ACC. Winston also doubled as a baseball player for the Seminoles as a right fielder and relief pitcher.
As a third-year sophomore, the numbers took a dip but the wins continued. Florida State finished the regular season undefeated before losing to Oregon in the first-ever College Football Playoff semifinals. Winston finished the season with 3,907 passing yards and 25 TDs to go with 18 INTs. Winston was named All-ACC first-team for a second time following the season.
Winston finished his two years as a starter with a 27-1 record. He passed for 7,964 yards and 65 TDs with 28 interceptions.
Following the season, Winston chose to forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the 2015 NFL draft. He is a first-round projection, and that includes the possibility of going No. 1 overall.
Honorable mention: Devon Kennard, No. 14 in 2009 class. Kennard picked USC out of Desert Vista High in Phoenix, Arizona, over offers from many of the nation's best. He played defensive end and linebacker for the Trojans before being drafted in the fifth round, No. 174 overall, by the New York Giants. Jalen Ramsey, No. 14 in 2013 class, is a first-team All-ACC and second-team All-American defensive back for Florida State. He is expected to be highly drafted in the 2016 or 2017 NFL draft.
