The last time Deshaun Watson played in a football game he was throwing for 269 yards and accounting for four touchdowns in Clemson’s 35-17 victory over archrival South Carolina in Death Valley.
Since then he had surgery to repair his ACL in his left knee, he has gone through vigorous rehabilitation, sat out spring practice, was named as the preseason favorite to win ACC Player of the Year honors and just wrapped up fall camp.
Oh, and by the way, he just started classes, too.
“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” said Watson, who will host Wofford, along with the rest of the 12th-ranked Tigers this Saturday in Death Valley.
Saturday will mark the first time Watson has run down the Hill since last year’s Louisville game. He did not run down the Hill against the Gamecocks in the regular season-finale last November due to his injured knee.
“I’m going to take it slow,” he said. “I feel really good. I’m excited about Saturday and I just can’t wait until that moment and that time comes.”
Neither can his freshman teammates. More than 40 freshman and redshirt freshman are expected to make their debut in the Orange and White on Saturday and some, like defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, have expressed their excitement to the Clemson quarterback.
Watson said Wilkins asked him what it was going to be like to run down the Hill for the first time during the team’s Beanie Bowl practice last week.
“He was telling me how excited he was about Saturday, and I was giving him a little info about how it is going to be a little wild that first time coming down the Hill and seeing all that orange,” he said. “All the young guys are excited and are waiting for that moment.”
Watson first ran down the Hill in last year’s S.C. State game. He said it is a feeling he really can’t explain.
“Every time I get off that bus and stand on top of that hill and look over the field and all the fans, it is a different feeling each time,” he said. “My first time was kind of nuts, but I really can’t tell you how I was feeling at that moment.
“Everything was just going through my head and I was just ready to play.”
And he will be ready again when the Tigers come charging down the Hill for the first time this season on Saturday.
“I just wanted to play the best I can play and help my team win,” Watson said. “I don’t want to leave any regrets on the field, not matter who I am playing. I’m just going out there to have fun, really. It’s a game I love to play.
“I put in so much work and time just to go out there for twelve Saturdays. I am just going to go out there, have some fun and leave no doubt.”