Clemson’s Watson ready for spotlight
CLEMSON,S.C.>> Deshaun Watson doesn’t need much more than his tight circle of family, friends and teammates when prepping for the season, even one where the Clemson quarterback could very well be the face of college football.
Watson led the Tigers to a 14-0 record, an Atlantic Coast Conference championship and the national championship game before falling to Alabama 45-40 in the title contest in January.
Watson, who threw for 405 yards and four touchdowns in an eye-popping performance against the Crimson Tide, became the first FBS player to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000. His poise, calm demeanor and transcendent ability have him a Heisman Trophy favorite and Clemson a championship contender set for a return to the College Football Playoffs.
“I don’t really have to say a whole lot to ‘D-Dub.’ He’s dialed in,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “He’s just a guy that’s hungry to be the best.”
He’ll try and guide the second-ranked Tigers, who start Sept. 3 at Auburn, to the title — and do it with the glare of the spotlight following his every move.
“I feel good. I’m confident and comfortable,” Watson said. “I trust my guys.”
Still, it’s not always easy performing to expectations.
Just three years ago and not too far down the road, South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was supposed to have the biggest impact on the game after the world watched him pop off Michigan runner Vincent Smith’s helmet in the Outback Bowl a season earlier.
Instead, Clowney was outschemed and a tad slower than a year earlier, even pulling himself out of a game shortly before kickoff — and touching off a brief flap with his coach Steve Spurrier — due to injury.
Clowney had a disappointing Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson says he’s ready for the onslaught and plans to handle the glare in his “roll with it” style that’s worked so well throughout his life.
season, finishing with three sacks — 10 fewer than the year before.
Sept. 2 Kensington 7:00 Sept. 10 Pennington 2:00 Sept. 16 at Calvary Baptist 3:45 Sept. 23 New Hope 7:00 Oct. 1 at Jenkintown 1:00 Oct. 8 at George 3:00 Oct. 14 Delaware County Christian 7:00 Oct. 22 at Valley Forge 1:30 Oct. 28 Lower Moreland 7:00 Nov. 24 at Morrisville 10:30
Sept. 2 Archbishop Caroll 3:00 Sept 9 at Episcopal 7:00 Sept. 16 West Catholic 7:00 Sept. 24 Schuykill Valley 7;00 Oct. 1 at Lansdale Catholic 5:00 Oct. 7 at Bishiop McDevitt 7:00 Oct. 14 Cardinal O’Hara 7:00 Oct. 21 Monsignor Bonner 7:00 Oct. 29 at Neumann-Gorertti 1:00 Nov. 24 at Truman 10:00
Sept. 3 at Central Bucks South 12:00 Sept. 9 Coatesville 7:00 Sept. 16 at Neshaminy 7:00 Sept. 24 Pennsbury 1:00 Oct. 1 at Truman 5:00 Oct. 7 Abington 7:00 Oct. 15 Central Bucks East 7:00 Oct. 21 at Bensalem 7:00 Oct. 28 Council Rock South 7:00
Aug. 26 Father Judge 7:00 Sept. 2 at Central Bucks West 7:00 Sept. 9 Central Bucks South 7:00 Sept. 16 Truman 7:00 Sept. 23 at Abington 7:00 Sept. 30 Pennridge 7:00 Oct. 8 Bensalem 1:00 Oct. 14 Pennsbury 7:00 Oct. 21 at Neshaminy 7:00 Oct. 28 at Council Rock North 7:00 Aug. 27 Steelton-Highspire 7:00 Sept. 2 Strawberry Mansion 7:00 Sept. 10 at Geroge School 2:00 Sept. 17 Lower Moreland 1:30 Sept. 23 at Valley Forge 3:30 Sept, 30 Calvary Christian 7:00 Oct. 7 Nativity BSM 7:00 Oct. 14 New Hope 7:00 Oct. 22 at Delaware County Christian 2:00 Oct. 28 Jenkintown 7:00 Oct. 2 at Wilmington Friends 2:00 Oct. 24 Bristol 10:30
Aug. 26 Roman Catholic 7:00 Sept. 2 at Pennridge 7:00 Sept. 9 at Downingtown West 7:00 Sept. 16 Council Rock North 7:00 Sept. 23 at Truman 7:00 Sept. 30 Abington 7:00 Oct. 7 Central Bucks South 7:00 Oct. 14 at Bensalam 7:00 Oct. 21 Council Rock South 7:00 Oct. 28 Pennsbury 7:00
Aug. 26 Frankford 7:00 Sept. 2 La Salle 7:00 Sept. 9 at North Penn 7:00 Sept. 16 William Tennent 7:00 Sept. 24 at Council Rock North 1:00 Sept. 30 Bensalem 7:00 Oct. 7 Truman 7:00 Oct. 14 at Council Rock South 7:00 Oct. 21 Abington 7:00 Oct. 28 at Neshaminy 7:00
Aug. 26 at Ridley 7:00 Sept. 2 Upper Dublin 7:00 Sept. 9 at William Tennent 7:00 Sept. 16 at Council Rock South 7:00 Sept. 23 Neshaminy 7:00 Oct. 1 Council Rock North 5:00 Oct. 7 at Pennsbury 7:00 Oct. 14 at Abington 7:00 Oct. 21 at Souderton 7:00 Oct. 28 Bensalem 7:00 Nov. 24 Conwell-Egan 10:00