Jameis Winston’s father says QB is turning pro

Jameis Winston has decided that he will enter the 2015 NFL Draft and not return to Florida State for his senior season, according to his father.

On Wednesday, Antonor Winston told ESPN.com’s David M. Hale that Jameis came to a firm decision on Tuesday night that he is ready to turn pro. Jameis initially said he would wait until after the national championship came to announce his decision, but he apparently changed his mind.

Winston has signed a contract with The Legacy Agency, which released a statement Wednesday on Winston’s behalf.

Most NFL Draft experts believe Winston will be the second quarterback taken in April behind Oregon’s Marcus Mariota. Antonor said his son has received a first-round grade from the NFL draft advisory committee.

ESPN’s Todd McShay views Winston as a better NFL prospect than Mariota.

“[Florida State quarterback] Jameis Winston, to me, is the better prospect,” McShay said. “Marcus Mariota is still a very good prospect but needs developing. They both have a chance to be great. But they both come with red flags. Winston’s red flags are off the field.”

While Winston threw an alarming 18 interceptions this season, he is a big, strong pocket passer who runs a pro-style offense at Florida State. Some have argued that Mariota is more a product of Oregon’s face-paced system, which may not be as effective at the NFL level.

The thing almost everyone can agree on is that Winston needs to show some maturity. He has found his name in headlines for the wrong reasons on several occasions. That said, I personally think Winston would be crazy to stay at FSU for another season. He’s likely going to be a top-five pick in April. His stock can’t get much higher.