Jameis Winston to enter NFL draft

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is going to the NFL.

The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner announced his decision to forgo his final two years of eligibility and enter the 2015 draft in a statement released to ESPN by The Legacy Agency Wednesday.

Winston was the most successful quarterback in college football the last two seasons, but also faced lengthy sexual assault investigations. He was not charged by police and was cleared by the university.

The Seminoles went 26-1 with Winston starting and won the 2014 national championship.

Winston has been widely considered a minimum top-five pick if he entered the upcoming draft, CBSSports.com reports.

But he faces questions about his off-the-field incidents. Allegations of sexual assault that have followed the athlete the past two years. The woman who accused Winston of rape has filed a lawsuit against FSU trustees, alleging the school violated her Title IX rights by failing to properly investigate the incident, reports the Orlando Sentinel.

Winston wrote that it would be difficult "to say goodbye to my family at Florida State."

Winston was unbeaten over the last two years for the majority of Florida State's 29-game winning streak, which came to a crashing end in the Rose Bowl as the Seminoles lost to Oregon, 59-20.

After the loss, his coaches and teammates realized Winston's Florida State career was probably over.

"What he did as a competitor, and what he does with his teammates, he's one of the great players in ... college football history to me," coach Jimbo Fisher said. "He's only had two years, and what he's been able to accomplish (is impressive)."