Despite starting only 17 games over the last five NFL seasons, Jameis Winston's celebrity continues to grow as fans latch on to his exuberant nature and love for football.
2013 Heisman-winning QB Jameis Winston speaks about his interest in Texas football as a high school recruit in the early 2010s
Winston, currently a free agent, spent Super Bowl week as FOX Sports' digital correspondent, allowing his infectious personality to shine through various media coverage.
Earlier this week, Winston joined the Pardon My Take podcast, where, among other things, he discussed his recruitment as a heralded two-sport athlete from Hueytown, Alabama.
"Stanford, Florida State, and LSU were my final options," Winston said. "I wanted to go to Texas. I feel like that would have fit me well."
Winston continued, "My mama got me this Fossil Texas watch because I told her that's the school I wanted to go to. I still have that watch to this day."
This is not a recent development.
Back in September of 2013, Winston told then-ESPN's Brett McMurphy, "I'm an OU fan, but I always wanted to go to Texas. If I'd gotten offer from Texas I'd be going to Texas right now."
Four months later, Winston hoisted the Heisman Trophy and BCS Coaches' Trophy after guiding Florida State to a 14-0 season. The Longhorns, on the other hand, sputtered to an 8-5 finish and an Alamo Bowl drubbing in what would be head coach Mack Brown's last game leading the program.
Although word out of the Texas football program said they did contact Winston's coach at Hueytown (Ala.) High, then-CBSSports's Bruce Feldman reported they did not believe he was legitimately interested in the Longhorns.
Winston went on to throw for nearly 8,000 yards and 65 touchdowns during two seasons as Florida State's starting quarterback. He also posted a 1.95 ERA in 60.1 innings pitched for the Seminoles' baseball team.
Well, there you have it—another confirmed quarterback recruiting miss late in the Mack Brown tenure. Add it to the list with Robert Griffin III and Johnny Manziel.
It's hard to say whether Winston would have saved Coach Brown's tenure at Texas. However, there is no reason the staff should not have pursued the Hueytown native more aggressively.
Winston was not a three-star prospect like the aforementioned RGIII or Manziel. Winston was ranked as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback and No. 16 overall player in the 2012 247Sports Composite.
In the class of 2012, Texas took the No. 4 pro-style quarterback and No. 175 nationally ranked recruit Connor Brewer, and three-star dual-threat Jalen Overstreet. Neither threw a pass in the burnt orange and white.
The Winston recruitment (or lack thereof) was a microcosm of the state of the program during Coach Brown's last few years.