FSU QB Jameis Winston: College degree 'very important to me'

Should Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston enter next year's NFL draft, he'll likely be the No. 1 pick, but he told NFL.com's Chase Goodbread on Friday that earning a college degree is "very important" to him.

Should Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston enter next year's NFL draft, he'll likely be the No. 1 pick, but he told NFL.com's Chase Goodbread on Friday that earning a college degree is "very important" to him.

Florida State QB Jameis Winston to attend ACC Media Days

"I was always raised as a student first and an athlete second," said Winston, a social sciences major with a minor in business. "I think that's the main purpose in college. Some athletes lose that perspective. It's about being a student-athlete, and not just getting that easy money and going to the league. Even if kids leave early, I would want them to come back and get that degree."

After winning a Heisman Trophy and a national championship last season with the Seminoles, Winston's father, Antoner, told AL.com that his son plans to play two more seasons at FSU.

"I'm not really worried about that," Winston said of his father's remarks last month. "I'm just focusing on the season right now, because this year is going to be one to remember."

Winston, 20, will be a third-year sophomore this fall. He threw for 40 touchdowns, ran for four more and had only 10 interceptions.

- Chris Mascaro