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Michael Vick, draft analysts, praise Florida State's Jameis Winston

By Alex Butler

PASADENA, Calif., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Jameis Winston is grabbing headlines again, but this time the sophomore is getting positive press.

On Wednesday, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay released his first mock draft for the 2015 NFL Draft. McShay had the Tennessee Titans taking the Florida State quarterback with the No. 2 selection.

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On Friday, New York Jets quarterback Michael Vick told NJ.com's Darryl Slater that the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner is "the future of the NFL."

Still, some NFL minds believe Winston has red flags.

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In September, former NFL coach Tony Dungy told the Dan Patrick Show that he would not draft Winston, if he had the chance, citing his "off the field issues."

Winston has a 26-0 career record, including last year's 34-31 national championship victory over Auburn. In 2013, Winston threw for 4,057 yards, 40 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. This season, the sophormore has throw for 3,559 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions.

On Thursday, Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke had Winston being selected sixth overall by the Jets, with Oregon's Marcus Mariota being taken first by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Winston has drawn public criticism for several off-field incidents in a young college career.

In October, Florida State's compliance department investigated if Winston took money in exchange for autographs but found "no information indicating that he accepted payment for items reported to bear his signature, thereby compromising his athletics eligibility," as reported by ESPN.

In September, Winston was seen jumping on a table on campus and screaming a sexually charged expletive-laced phrase. Winston was suspended for the Clemson game by coach Jimbo Fisher following the incident.

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In April, Winston was accused of stealing crab legs from a supermarket in Talahassee and was given a citation, suspended from the baseball team, and required to do community service.

In December 2012, Winson was accused of raping a woman at his off-campus apartment. This month, a state attorney's investigation found that there was not enough evidence to bring criminal charges against Winston, according to USA Today.

At an Oct. 13 press conference, Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher defended his quarterback.

"The facts of the case," Fisher said. "Read the reports. Read what's there. The facts are the facts. That's what they are. And when I see stories written that don't have all the facts — that paint them towards their side of public opinion.

"This country is based on being innocent until proven guilty. Not guilty until proven innocent. There are two sides to that. I don't want a victim for anything, but there is no victim because there was no crime. We're convicting a guy over things that are not true, based on evidence."

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