Transcript via ASAP Sports.
On being home for Christmas break and not at the Heisman Ceremony
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: I think it just was a fun experience all around. We're still young, so we don't get worn out easily, but New York was pretty tiring. It was just fun. It was a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity.
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: No, it wasn't. I mean, obviously I could have went as a winner, but I wanted to stay home. I got a chance to spend some time with my teammates, things I didn't do last year, and be with my family. Study for exams. That was very important because academics are important.
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: And yeah, I got a chance to read to some kids, so that was fun.
Q. You were in Tallahassee?
JAMEIS WINSTON: Yes.
On throwing more interceptions ...
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: I'm not going to blame none of my guys. I forced a lot of passes this year, but it's a learning thing. That's one thing people don't look at. It's not about you playing when everything is going good. It's how you react when things are going bad and things are not going your way, and the fact that I have tremendous teammates that help me overcome all the turnovers that I have this year just makes me smile.
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: I said I have forced more passes.
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: No, you know, most of my interceptions came from pressures. Anticipation is a big part of my game, so when people are not at the right spot at the right time, it can lead to turnovers.
Q. Have you ever faced this much adversity versus interceptions and things not going your way?
JAMEIS WINSTON: Never. I've never had a season like this, but it's good to have a season like this.
Q. How does it make you better as a quarterback?
JAMEIS WINSTON: I think it actually makes me better as a quarterback because things are not always going good, and when you get to the next level or even in life, when things are not going your way, you just can't hide up under a bridge or hide up under a rock. You've got to keep going, and it makes it more about your teammates and trying to win the game for them, and you can't worry about your individual statistics?
On being a leader ...
Q. How do you feel like you've grown as a quarterback, as a leader for the team?
JAMEIS WINSTON: Well, I feel like I get better every day. No matter the adversity I do face with interceptions or turnovers, I feel like I can just get people to play better than what they are capable of playing with, just because of the way that I motivate them, the way I talk to them and the way that I'm all in for them. Karlos said that he can run a 4.2, I can motivate Karlos to run a 4.1.
Q. How?
JAMEIS WINSTON: Just the way I do things. I believe I'm a confident guy, but I believe I have more confidence in my teammates than they have in themselves.
Q. How do you measure yourself?
JAMEIS WINSTON: Well, I measure myself by probably the win column. When you do all those things‑‑ like the Florida game, I had four interceptions in that game, three interceptions in the first quarter, and we still pulled that game off. Yeah, it's a defensive effort, but those guys don't see me on the sidelines saying, hey, it's your fault. They don't see me with my head down. I said, we're still going to win this game. I know I messed up but I know I'm going to come through in the clutch, and they know I'm going to come through in the clutch.
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: Perseverance has been a big thing in our game, and the will to win is more important than anything. We go into a game wanting to win and not hoping not to lose. This team is special. We've got a ton of competitors and a ton of guys that enjoy winning, and I think when you have guys that enjoy winning and cherish winning, you do anything to keep that alive.
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: Well, you know, a great quarterback can be born, but you've got to‑‑ when you have opportunities in front of you to make yourself a great quarterback, you've got to take them, and that comes from film preparation, studying, and wanting to know the game, how you act when you're with your teammates and how you just do things every day.
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: Never, because those guys can't see my confidence wavering. Obviously I study more and I spend more time than I might be, oh, what am I doing, why am I doing this. But at the end of the day, my job is to be a quarterback and a leader to those guys.
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: Just in my abilities. I believe even if I'm having a bad game, I know when the time gets rough, I think I'm better than anybody in a hard time than anyone in the country.
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: Well, I don't want to fill you in on no secrets, but there haven't been no messages at halftime. It's just, hey, stop messing up, go out there and do what you do. It's not been much of a difference, it's just we turned on the switch because we persevere and we compete. We don't feel comfortable when we're losing, and that's not how we‑‑ it just feels awkward, so we feel like we've got to get on top somehow.
On his receivers ...
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: It's great. Rashad and Nick O'Leary are really my only returning receivers, so obviously we have a better connection than some of the young guys. But just having him and having Nick, it's a blessing to me. Those guys are so good.
Q. The way Rashad runs his routes, how nice is it for a quarterback to know he's going to be exactly where you're supposed to throw the ball?
JAMEIS WINSTON: Well, if I knew where everyone was when I was supposed to throw the ball, I probably wouldn't have 17 interceptions, but Rashad is just so tremendous. I'm truly blessed to have him. I'm still mad that he's not viewed as one of the best receivers in college football. I think he's so underrated and he's so great.
Q. How much does that bother you?
JAMEIS WINSTON: That Rashad doesn't get any attention? Oh, it tears me up because I know if I didn't have that guy‑‑ Rashad was our leading receiver last year and he's our leading receiver this year. If I didn't have that guy, I don't know where I'd be right now.
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: Two peas in a pod. Just that close. He's my brother. Me and Rashad got close when all that stuff happened last year after the Syracuse game. I used to stay at his house all night, and he became my older brother, and I love that man.
On social media and living as a celebrity in Tallahassee ...
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: Never really. I just usually go on Instagram now and look at pictures and stuff. I rarely just hop on Twitter or anything. If something is being said about me and someone does a screen shot and is showing me, I'm like, why are you sending me that, man?
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: Those things never bother me. Obviously I know that I'm under a microscope, so that's different, and that's why I say in Tallahassee I've just got to sit in because people will tweet about you for walking down the street backwards. You've just got to chill.
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: Yeah, it has. I love being around my teammates, and the only time I can be around them is in the locker room. I can't celebrate with them, can't do nothing with them, but it comes with the territory.
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: Yeah, I have a couple friends over. My teammates basically.
Q. (Inaudible.)
JAMEIS WINSTON: Every Saturday it gets me through the season because I know I've got something to look forward to on Saturday, and that's playing football.