Eli LedermanAug 30, 2025, 09:06 PM ET
- Eli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World.
Florida State landed a legacy commitment Saturday night when class of 2026 athlete Jonah Winston, the brother of former Seminoles Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, announced his pledge Saturday night shortly after the program completed its Week 1 upset over No. 8 Alabama.
Winston, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound prospect from Birmingham, Alabama, is a three-star recruit in the current cycle. He lands as the 22nd overall commit in Florida State's incoming class in 2026.
Winston is the younger brother of Jameis Winston, who cemented his place in the Seminoles' program history across three seasons on campus from 2012-14. Winston was a consensus All-American in the 2013 season, when he led Florida State to a national title win over Auburn and became the program's third-ever Heisman Trophy winner. Winston was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft and is set to enter his 11th NFL season this fall with the New York Giants.
The younger Winston plays both quarterback and wide receiver at Hoover High School in Birmingham, Alabama, and projects as a pass catcher at the level. He caught 38 passes for 542 yards and three touchdowns as a junior last fall, adding another five scores on the ground.
Florida State entered Saturday with the No. 13 overall class in ESPN's class rankings for the 2026 cycle. That group includes 12 ESPN 300 commits, headlined by top 50 defenders Izayia Williams (No. 39 overall) and Chauncey Kennon (No. 48). Winston marks the latest addition to a talented pass-catching class led by four-star tight end Xavier Tiller (No. 84) and wide receivers Devin Carter (No. 130) and Brandon Bennett (No. 207).
On the heels of a 2-10 finish in 2024, Florida State coach Mike Norvell and the Seminoles opened 2025 with a resounding, 31-17 win against Alabama Saturday afternoon. Florida State is set to host East Texas A&M in Week 2 (12 PM EST, ACC Network) before an open date in Week 3.