"After weighing this decision with my family and friends, I have deicided to declare for the 2015 NFL Draft and forgo my remaing eligbility at Florida State," Winston said via statement released by the Legacy Agency, which will represent him in his move to the NFL.
"I reached this very difficult decision after careful consideration and long thought, realizing how difficult it would be to say goodbye to my family at Florida State. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to wear the garnet and gold and have greatly enjoyed my time as a Seminole, both as an athlete and a student in the classroom.
"I will always take pride in leading our team back to national prominence and am confident that my returning teammates will continue the success for many years to come.
"To the fans, I can't thank you enough for the support you showed me and the team over the last three seasons; it was a humbling experience to bring the Championship back to Tallahassee for you all to enjoy.
"To my teammates, it's been an incredible opportunity to play with the most impressive collection of talent and people the game has seen; you all have been there for me through the highs and lows and the relationships we have formed extend well beyond the field. For this, I thank you.
"To the coaching staff and especially Coach Fisher, I am forever grateful for the ways you developed me as a player and a person as I have grown over the years. I knew I made the right decision to come to Florida State four years ago and couldn't be happier with this choice as I write this today.
"As I embark in the next challenge of playing in the NFL, I look forward to contributing to a long line of successful alumni at the next level. I want you all to know that I will make Seminole Nation proud and continue to bring the passion and love for the game you all have seen in Doak Campbell since my first day as a 'Nole. Thank you for making my time in Tallahassee some of the best years of my life."
Expected to be a top-five pick in April’s draft -- if not the No. 1 overall selection -- the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner will be leaving Tallahassee with a 26-1 career record as the Seminoles' starting quarterback, the best winning percentage in school history.
During his time at FSU, the Hueytown, Ala., product won the 2014 BCS National Championship, two ACC championships and collected numerious personal awards. He played just two seasons as a Seminole, yet ranks third in school history with 7,964 passing yards and second in passing touchdowns (65).
In 2013, Winston set national freshman records passing for 4,057 yards and 40 touchdowns.
His numbers decreased in all major statistical categories in 2014 -- completion percentage, yards, touchdowns and QB rating -- while his interceptions rose from 10 to 18.
In both seasons, however, he had a pension for coming up with big plays when the team needed them most.
"I would like to wish Jameis nothing but success at the next level as I think he’ll be extremely successful," said Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher in a statement released by the school. "It was a blessing to be able to coach him. He’s one of the unique players that I’ve ever had the privilege to coach. He embodies what you as a coach want as a person, a student and a player. He’s a genuine and honest guy. He’s one of the greatest players in Florida State history.
"I have nothing but respect for everything Jameis stands for, what he is and what he will do in the future. He’s truly one of the most special guys that I’ve had the privilege to be able to coach and I can’t thank him enough for the contributions to our family at Florida State."
A 2012 sexual assault accusation was attached to his name for most of his time at the school (a charge he was cleared of multiple times).
In April he was accused of stealing $32.72 worth of crab legs from a Tallahassee supermarket. He was given a civil citation and suspended from the baseball team until he completed 20 hours of community service.
In September, he was suspended one game (against ACC rival Clemson) after yelling a profane, sexually-charged phrase in the university's student union.
Indeed, Winston was a polarizing figure at Florida State. Everything he did, good or bad, was well documented and analyzed. The success he had on the field allowed the school to recruit top athletes from around the nation, while his mistakes outside of football brought unwanted, negative attention to the program.
Over the next five months, NFL teams will undoubtedly being weighing the pros and cons on whether Winston's talent trumps potential headaches off the field.
NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt said NFL teams will find out everything they need to know about Winston's background from league security. Brandt helped build the Super Bowl-winning Dallas Cowboys as vice president of player personnel from 1960 to '89.
"Initially, he's going to get a grade and it's going to be very good because he is a good player," Brandt said. "They'll look at the Notre Dame game and see all the unusual blitzes that they brought against him and what he did. They'll look at the Louisville game where he threw three interceptions and knocks the ball loose from the interceptor and throws a touchdown pass the next play.
"The way he's played this year is unbelievable with all of the problems that he's faced and all the adjustments he's had to make to practice times and to do all the things that he has to do to defend himself, give depositions, appear in court before the student body, all of those things," Brandt said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
