As expected, Jameis Winston on Wednesday earned Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year honors. Perhaps not as expected was the number of votes Winston did not receive. And that could have a bearing on the Heisman Trophy race.
ESPN.com reported that Winston received 47 of the 65 votes from members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association. Boston College running back Andre Williams had 13 votes and Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald had four.
Winston is the first redshirt freshman in the 61-year history of the ACC to win the overall award (he also won Offensive Player of the Year honors). But the vote shows that Winston, who is being accused of sexual battery from an alleged assault in a Tallahassee, Fla., apartment on Dec. 7, 2012, could have problems locking up the Heisman Trophy, which will be announced on Dec. 14, 2013.
The awards for Winston came a day after the prosecutor investigating the sexual assault allegations against the Florida State quarterback said he will not rush through an investigation.
According to ABCNews.com, State Attorney Willie Meggs said Monday he will conduct the investigation "not based on a football schedule or anyone else's calendar."
The deadline for Heisman Trophy voters to cast their ballots is Monday. Winston's attorney, Tim Jansen had asked that investigation be wrapped up - and Winston cleared - before Monday so that Heisman voters would not be swayed by the pending investigation. Sports Illustrated.com is reporting that the Florida State Attorney's Office will announce whether it will charge Winston on Thursday at 2 p.m. ET.
Winston led the Seminoles to a 12-0 record overall and the top spot in the BCS rankings. Florida State went 8-0 in the ACC and will face Duke in the conference championship game on Saturday. The redshirt freshman leads the nation with a passing efficiency rating of 192.6 and led the ACC with 35 touchdown passes and 3,490 passing yards.
Williams leads the nation with 2,102 rushing yards, but Boston College is 7-5 on the season. Donald leads the nation in tackles for loss with 26.5, but the Panthers are 6-6 on the season.
Winston is considered the clear-cut favorite to win the Heisman, but without a decision about the allegations coming before the Heisman vote closes, Winston stands to lose the Heisman if enough voters deem him unworthy based on the allegations.
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