2013 Heisman Trophy Winner Jameis Winston

The 2013 Heisman Trophy presentation was held on December 14, 2013, in New York City, New York. The ceremony was broadcast live on ESPN and hosted by Chris Fowler. The Heisman Trophy Ceremony highlighted the accomplishments of the finalists invited by the Downtown Athletic Club, the governing body of the Heisman Trophy. The finalists included a record tying six finalists featuring Jordan Lynch, Tre Mason, Johnny Manziel, AJ McCarron, Andre Williams, and the eventual winner, Jameis Winston. ^[1]

Preseason Expectations

Entering the 2013 college football season, expectations were high for several quarterbacks, including Johnny Manziel, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. However, as the season progressed, it became clear that Florida State’s redshirt freshman quarterback, Jameis Winston, was the most dominant player in college football. Winston’s remarkable poise, accuracy, and leadership led Florida State to an undefeated regular season and a spot in the BCS National Championship Game.

Jameis Winston’s Heisman-Winning Season Statistics

Jameis Winston, quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles, had one of the most impressive freshman seasons in college football history. He became the second freshman ever to win the Heisman Trophy, following Johnny Manziel in 2012. Winston led the Seminoles to a perfect 13-0 record, an ACC Championship, and a berth in the BCS National Championship Game.

For the season, Winston completed 257 of 384 passes, resulting in a 66.9% completion percentage. He threw for 4,057 yards, 40 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions. In addition to his passing prowess, Winston added 193 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground. His ability to make plays under pressure and his leadership at such a young age solidified his status as the best player in college football.

2013 Heisman Trophy Voting Breakdown ^[2]

Jameis Winston – 2,205 points
AJ McCarron – 704 points
Jordan Lynch – 558 points
Andre Williams- 470 points
Johnny Manziel – 421 points
Tre Mason – 404 points

Winston won in dominant fashion, receiving 668 first-place votes, making him the youngest player ever to win the Heisman Trophy at just 19 years old 342 days old. A record that would be broken by the 2016 Heisman Trophy Winner Lamar Jackson who was 19 years and 338 days old.

Other Awards and Accolades

In addition to winning the 2013 Heisman Trophy, Jameis Winston also earned several other prestigious awards, including:

Walter Camp Award – Given annually to the top player in college football.
Manning Award – Recognizing the top college quarterback, including performance in the postseason.
Associated Press Player of the Year – Given to the most outstanding player in college football.
Consensus All-American – Named a first-team All-American by multiple organizations.
ACC Player of the Year – Recognized as the top player in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Winston's dominance in 2013 set him apart as one of the most accomplished freshman quarterbacks in NCAA history.

2013 Heisman Trophy Winner – Jameis Winston’s Season Recap

The Florida State Seminoles entered the 2013 season with high expectations but exceeded even the boldest predictions. Behind Winston's leadership, the team dominated opponents, averaging over 50 points per game. Notable wins included a 51-14 rout of Clemson in Death Valley and a 41-14 victory over Miami.

FSU capped off the regular season with a convincing win over Duke in the ACC Championship Game, securing a spot in the final BCS National Championship Game. Winston threw for 3 touchdowns in the ACC title game, further solidifying his Heisman candidacy.

In the BCS National Championship Game against Auburn on January 6, 2014, Winston led a game-winning drive in the final minutes, throwing the decisive touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin with just 13 seconds left. FSU won the game 34-31, securing the school's third national championship.

2013 Heisman Trophy Winner Jameis Winston’s 2014 Season

Following his historic Heisman-winning freshman campaign, Jameis Winston returned to Florida State for the 2014 season with high expectations. The Seminoles entered the season as the defending national champions and were ranked No. 1 in the preseason polls. Winston led FSU to another undefeated regular season (12-0), extending the team’s winning streak to 27 games. His passing numbers slightly declined from his 2013 season, finishing with 3,907 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions, but he remained a clutch performer, engineering multiple fourth-quarter comebacks, including a dramatic overtime win against Clemson and a last-minute victory over Notre Dame.

FSU won the ACC Championship again, securing a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff. However, the Seminoles' undefeated streak came to an end in the Rose Bowl against Oregon in the national semifinal, where they lost 59-20. The game marked Winston’s final college appearance, as he declared for the 2015 NFL Draft soon after. Despite the disappointing finish, Winston left Florida State as one of the most successful quarterbacks in school history, with a 26-1 record as a starter.

The defending 2013 Heisman Trophy Winner Jameis Winston placed 6^th in the 2014 Heisman Trophy voting but was not invited to attend the ceremony as a finalist.

Other Florida State Heisman Trophy Winners

Charlie Ward – 1993
Chris Weinke – 2000

2013 Heisman Trophy Winner – Jameis Winston in the NFL Draft

After his redshirt sophomore season in 2014, Jameis Winston declared for the 2015 NFL Draft. He was selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Winston became the second consecutive Heisman-winning quarterback to be drafted first overall, following Marcus Mariota in 2014. ^[3]

As a rookie, Winston threw for over 4,000 yards and was named to the Pro Bowl. His career has included stints with multiple teams (Buccaneers, Saints, and Browns) showcasing both his strong arm and playmaking ability. While his NFL career has had its ups and downs, his historic 2013 Heisman-winning season remains one of the greatest freshman campaigns in college football history.

Revision History