Dec 3, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws the ball against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the first half of the ACC Championship college football game at Camping World Stadium. Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dabo Swinney knew Deshaun Watson was special back when the 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior was just a freshman in high school.
In fact, that’s when he offered him a scholarship. But for many college football fans outside of the ACC, they really didn’t know how good Watson was until last year’s epic national championship game between Clemson and Alabama.
Despite losing 45-40 to the Crimson Tide, Watson was the best player on the field on that fateful January 11, 2016, night in University of Phoenix Stadium. He passed for a game-high 405 yards and four touchdowns and led Clemson in rushing with 73 yards.
But despite the gaudy numbers, it was Watson’s innate ability to elude pressure at the hands of Alabama’s potent pass rush that was one of the more impressive takeaways from arguably the top national title game since Texas and USC locked horns in the 2006 Rose Bowl.
“You’ve got to credit Clemson,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. “Their quarterback is a fabulous player. Their team played hard. I’d like to congratulate them on the season that they had.”
Entering spring practice, Swinney challenged Watson, who in 2015 became the first QB in FBS history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000, to get better in several areas, most notably with his footwork and decision-making, but also as a leader. And it’s not like Watson wasn’t a leader to begin with, because he is. But his head coach pushed him to elevate the play of others, along with his ever-evolving game, if Clemson wanted to make a return trip to the college football’s version of the Final Four.
Swinney mentioned a play against Alabama where Watson botched a snap. Sure, those things happen, especially when squaring off against an-always tough Crimson Tide defense, but eliminating opportunity for mistakes by focusing more on doing everything right all the time is one thing Swinney harped on all spring.
“The interceptions that he had, some of them weren’t his fault. Those that were (his fault), what lead to that decision and how do we improve from that?” Swinney told Lindy’s about Watson. “Ball handling; being fanatical about your fundamentals and being disciplined with your footwork — all those things that matter all the way to the national championship, where we fumbled an exchange.”
Like last year, Watson was at his best in the team’s biggest games. In the hard-fought season-opening 19-13 win over Auburn, he passed for 248 yards and a score. Against high-scoring Lamar Jackson and Louisville, Watson passed for 306 yards and five TDs, while adding 91 yards on the ground.
In the thrilling 37-34 comeback win over Florida State, Watson shook off two first half interceptions to throw for 378 yards and two scores.
With Clemson trailing 28-20 entering the fourth quarter, the Tigers’ dynamic QB engineered three scoring drives, including the five-play, 75-yard game-winner with 2:06 to go. The scoring march was capped off by a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Leggett and a two-point reception by Mike Williams that gave the Tigers a thrilling 3-point win.
“It’s a special win,” Watson said. “It’s hard to win here against these guys.”
With the victory, Watson became the first Clemson quarterback ever to win back-to-back games versus the Seminoles. He also joined Charlie Whitehurst as the only other Tiger signal-caller to beat FSU twice.
“I’ve never been around a guy like this guy. The moment’s never too big for him,” Swinney said.
Two weeks later, despite throwing for an ACC record 580 yards, Clemson lost a heartbreaker, 43-42, to Pittsburgh — the Tigers’ first loss to an unranked opponent in five years.
But despite the disappointment, Watson remained the steadfast leader. He said that his team still had unfinished business to attend to as it pertained to winning the ACC Atlantic Division and then the league championship. And that would start by beating Wake Forest, which Clemson did, 35-13.
“Come Monday, we’ll start over because it’s a long season,” Watson said. “Get ready for Wake Forest. Hopefully, we can clinch the ACC (Atlantic) and punch our ticket.”
In the regular season finale against rival South Carolina, Watson passed for 347 yards and tied a career-high with six touchdown passes. He became the first Clemson player to throw six touchdown passes against the Gamecocks and the third player in ACC history to be responsible for at least 100 touchdowns in a career, joining former Tiger Tajh Boyd (133) and NC State’s Philip Rivers (112) in that category.
He also improved to 29-3 as the starting quarterback at Clemson, which includes a 3-0 record against the Gamecocks.
Watson got a special treat from the Clemson faithful when he was inserted back into the game with less than seven minutes to play — with the Tigers holding a 49-7 lead. Swinney then called a timeout to let Watson and the offense receive a standing ovation before leaving the field.
“It was great. I am thankful for our fans,” said Watson, who recorded his 12th 300-yard passing game.
“They bring an awesome environment no matter who we are playing against or when we are playing. Death Valley is truly one of the best, if not the best, stadiums to play college football in, so I want to thank the fans, teammates, coaches and everyone who is part of this game day atmosphere.”
After the loss to the Panthers, Watson played his best football down the stretch. He completed 74 percent of his passes for 1,129 yards and 10 touchdowns in the team’s three final regular season games before his five touchdown performance against Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship Game.
Now Watson and his teammates are back where they were a season ago: in the College Football Playoff. But this time, winning it all is the only option. And the play of Watson will go a long way in determining if that happens.
