It was a history making night for Florida State as quarterback Jameis Winston was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the first pick in the 2015 NFL Draft on Thursday. Winston replaces defensive end Andre Wadsworth, who went third overall to the Arizona Cardinals in 1998, as the highest player from FSU ever selected.
During his career, Winston complete over 66 percent of his passes for nearly 8,000 yards, 65 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. In his two years as Florida State’s starting quarterback, Winston lost just once and led FSU to two ACC championships and the 2013 national championship. As a freshman in 2013, he became the youngest player to win the Heisman Trophy.
Winston however, was not the only Seminole to hear his name called in the first round of the draft Thursday night.
With the 19th overall pick in the draft, the Cleveland Browns took offensive lineman Cameron Erving. Originally a defensive tackle at Florida State, Erving had one of the more successful careers of any FSU player ever to move from one side of the ball to the other.
At 6’6″ and 310 pounds, Erving excelled as a left tackle in 2012 and 2013 before being forced to move to center in mid-November of 2014. Erving was a two-time first team All-ACC selection and an All-American over his final two years in Tallahassee. He becomes the first FSU offensive lineman taken in the first round since Alex Barron also went 19th to the St. Louis Rams a decade ago.
The 2015 NFL Draft will resume with the second and third round on Friday night.
