TAMPA, Fla. -- On Saturday night, the 2016 Heisman Trophy will be presented to the nation's top college football player. Former Florida State and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston can still remember how it felt three years ago when he stood on that stage in New York, winning the biggest award of his life.

“It meant a lot,” Winston said of the honor. “It was amazing to be able to look at everyone, especially the people who won the award in the past. And being able to see my mom’s face when I received the award -- it was really a blessing.”

At 19 years and 342 days old, Winston was the youngest winner in the award’s history and the second consecutive freshman to win the award after Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel. He also won by the seventh-largest margin – 2,205 points to AJ McCarron’s 704 points and Jordan Lynch’s 558.

His parents were a big part of his acceptance speech, which was centered around the words: “Trust the process.” He talked about the time his father, Antonor, lost his job three years earlier and how it fueled his desire to want to provide for his family, and how he did what he could to help his mother, Loretta, make that happen.

He talked about how “trusting the process” and knowing the “truth prevailed” in his father's situation helped him through a very difficult month leading up to the ceremony. Winston had been accused of and investigated for sexual assault at Florida State. The case was closed with no charges filed one week before the ceremony.

He also talked about how the award wasn't just his -- it was for Florida State. He went on to lead Florida State to a BCS national championship, beating the Auburn Tigers 34-31, capping an undefeated season. He tacked on another undefeated regular season that following year before losing to the Oregon Ducks in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl. He was then selected first overall in the 2015 NFL draft and got to play in the Pro Bowl.

When asked what his advice he would give to this year's Heisman winner, he emphasized that the award isn’t a final destination. He had to keep working to improve. The expectations had risen. He emphasized that the honor demands even more from its recipient, both on the field and off.

“Just continue to work,” Winston said. “Continue to put your work in. It’s a very prestigious award. But to whom much is given, much is required.”