WATCH: Jameis Winston graduates from Florida State, accepts diploma

Jameis Winston returned to Florida State on Saturday to complete what has been a seven-year journey for the former Seminoles quarterback. While college players from around the country waited to hear their name called at the 2022 NFL Draft, Winston was also waiting to be beckoned on stage more than 2,000 miles away in Tallahassee.

Finally the moment came, and the now New Orleans Saints quarterback proudly walked up to accept his diploma. Winston had been taking online classes while in the NFL, and can now say he has graduated from Florida State with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

Earning his Bachelor's degree today:

Jameis Lanaed Winston 📜pic.twitter.com/jy7GWTKG1B

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) April 30, 2022

Jameis Winston is a legend on the Florida State campus, winning the Heisman trophy as a redshirt freshman in 2013 before going on to lead the Seminoles to a BCS National Championship victory against Auburn. He put up eye-popping numbers during that season, throwing for 4,057 yards, 40 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Winston returned the following season in 2014, leading FSU to an appearance in the first-ever College Football Playoff after going 13-0 in the regular season. Unfortunately, the Seminoles lost to Oregon in a semifinal game, falling short of a second straight national title. Seven years later, that is still Florida State’s only appearance in the Playoff.

Following his second season as a starter in college, Winston decided to forgo his junior year for a career in the NFL, where he was the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He played the first five years of his pro career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before joining the Saints in 2020.

This past season, Winston took over as the Saints starter following the retirement of Drew Brees. He only appeared in seven games, however, before suffering a torn ACL in Week 8 that ended his season early. The Saints re-signed the quarterback this offseason to a one-year contract worth $5.5 million, and he once looks primed to enter as the starter in 2022.

Saints and Seminoles fans alike will hope for a big year from Winston, who had thrown for 1,170 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interception prior to his injury in 2021. If he kept that rate up, he was on pace for a career-low in interceptions, something that has been a major weakness for him throughout his time in the NFL.

Regardless of what happens on the field, however, Winston has perhaps already achieved his biggest feat of the year by graduating college.