Jimbo Fisher knows he will eventually have to talk to his quarterback Jameis Winston about the player's future in college football, but he will not be surprised either way.
According to ESPN, the Florida State Seminoles head football coach was on the "Mike and Mike" radio show Friday morning to talk about his star QB. Winston and the Seminoles are scheduled to play the Oregon Ducks on Jan. 1 for the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game.
But Winston's decision will likely be affected by other circumstances not related to the football field. He is currently awaiting a decision on a disciplinary hearing related to the sexual assault he was accused of in Dec. 2012 that could determine his future at Florida State.
"I understand if he wants to go, when a guy's that high and you're doing what you do," Fisher said on the show. "But remember, he's a very, very good student. He's very smart. He loves baseball. He loves his time in college. He loves all the interaction of this, believe it or not. So it would not shock me either way.
"We'll have the discussion here pretty soon."
Though Winston's off-field issues are typically related to maturity, but Fisher said the QB is a natural leader in the locker room.
"His mentality is go, go, go, let me win. He drives our team. He's so fun to coach that way because his intelligence level, when you talk to him, is like talking to a coach," the coach said. "It really is. That's the thing that makes him special. Good enough is never good enough. He strives, pushes, challenges himself, consistently, every day and every practice because he wants to dominate his opponent."
A year after winning the Heisman Trophy, Winston threw 17 interceptions but still led the Seminoles to a second consecutive undefeated season. Despite the down season, Winston figures to be a high draft pick, should he declare, because of his size, football IQ and arm talent.
