Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah says FSU QB Jameis Winston needs to work on his maturity

Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah, a Heisman Trophy candidate had some choice words for reigning Heisman winner Jameis Winston on Monday.

Abdullah and Winston, Florida State’s quarterback, grew up together in Birmingham, Ala., and Abdullah said he considers Winston a friend. However, he said he didn’t understand why Winston continued to put himself and Florida State into a negative spotlight.

"It's kind of hard for me to understand what's going on with him right now, but from a general standpoint it's the maturity level," Abdullah told the Associated Press. "Think before you act. Understand the bigger picture. Everything that you do, say or how you present yourself can have dire consequences. That's something I feel like he definitely needs to assess more.

"Every situation you do, you represent not only yourself, the university, your family, people who go to the university. So being that guy who's the star down there, he holds much bigger weight than he realizes sometimes ... I know he's much better than what he's shown."

Winston was suspended for last week’s game against Clemson after he stood on a table in the Florida State student union and yelled an obscene phrase. Winston was originally only suspended for half the game, but the suspension was lengthened after reports that he lied about the incident to FSU officials.

Last year, Winston was under investigation for the alleged sexual assault of a female student and is still the subject of an ongoing Title IX case being conducted by the university. Last spring, Winston was caught stealing crab legs from a local grocery store.

"Maybe he feels like he needs to be this guy in the spotlight all the time just because of who he is down there," Abdullah told the AP. "Maybe he's doing things trying to be the guy making people laugh, but he's doing it in a very negative spotlight."

Abdullah and Winston did not go to the same high school, but they trained together at the same gym and Abdullah said the two attended the same camps. He said the two have known each other since eighth grade.

Nebraska has centered Abdullah’s Heisman campaign on the fact that he returned to school to get his degree and make his family proud. Abdullah is second in the country in rushing yards with 625 so far this season. He also has five rushing touchdowns and two receiving.

Abdullah noted that he has an affinity for Winston as a friend, but that the 20-year-old sophomore needs to work on his maturity.

"He's a very intelligent young man," Abdullah said. "But he's made his fair share of mistakes. It gets to the point where you feel like he needs to start understanding and take things more seriously because these things can alter what happens in his future.

"You should see yourself as a young guy but hold yourself to a higher level of maturity. Definitely he has a long way to go."

For more Nebraska news, visit HuskerOnline.com.

For more Florida State news, visit Warchant.com.

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