On the second pass of his career, Deshaun Watson threw an NFL caliber touchdown pass through a space that was smaller between two defenders than the space between two of Georgia’s famous hedges at Sanford Stadium.
Two weeks later in his first real action against a quality opponent the true freshman completed 19 of 28 passes for 266 yards in leading Clemson to a near upset of No.1 Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla.
His performance at Florida State earned Watson his first career start when the Tigers traveled back to Death Valley to face pretty much the same North Carolina team—from a personnel standpoint—he will see in Saturday’s ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, N.C.
On the Tigers’ second play from scrimmage, and on Watson’s first pass of the game, he found a wide open Germone Hopper for a 75-yard touchdown. It was a sign of things to come.
“It was one of those nights that I was in a groove and feeling my game,” Watson said.
Oh, he was feeling it alright. Watson went on to throw five more touchdown passes for a school record six, while coming within 20 yards of breaking Tajh Boyd’s single-game record for passing yards, too. Watson finished the game 27 of 36 for 435 yards.
“He torched us for six touchdowns last year, probably had the best game of his career,” North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora said. “But that was the 2014 team, and we’re a different football team. I can promise you that.”
The Tar Heels are different. At the end of last season, after his defense ranked last in the ACC in total yards and was one of the worst in the country, he fired then defensive coordinator Vic Koenning and brought in former Auburn head coach Gene Chizik.
With Chizik calling the defense, the Tar Heels are giving up 100 yards less per game than they did a year ago, and are allowing just 20.8 points and 186.7 yards through the air. Both rank 19th nationally.
“They are more confident and are having more fun,” Watson said about the difference in UNC’s defense this year. “They know what to do. They know their scheme and plan. That’s the difference I see.”
But Watson has changed too in the last year. Not only is he still the same guy that can chuck the ball all over the field, but he runs the ball more this year than at any point when he was healthy in 2014.
In last year’s 50-35 victory over the Tar Heels, Watson ran the ball just 11 times for 28 yards. In last week’s win over South Carolina, he ran the ball 21 times for 114 yards and scored three touchdowns.
“I don’t know what the criteria is for (the Heisman) guys to make decisions, but I’m going to give him my vote as the best player in the country,” Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. “He goes in week in and week out, he can run the football, he can beat you with his arm, and he makes good decisions.
“He is a complete player. He is the best quarterback in the country. I know I am happy that he is on my team.”
Fedora says Watson reminds him of somebody he has watched a lot this year – his own quarterback.
“You know, I guess Deshaun, comparing him to Marquise (Williams), he’s a guy that he can make every throw there is. He looks like he’s very poised for a young guy, for a sophomore. Nothing rattles him,” the UNC coach said. “He runs the ball extremely well. You know, and I would say ‘Quise can do all of those things, too. Probably the only difference, ‘Quise may be a little thicker, and ‘Quise is older. I don’t know, maybe he just has more … maybe more experience, that’s all.”
Williams has thrown for 2,605 yards and 18 touchdowns this year, while completing 64.6 percent of his passes. He has also run for 786 yards and has 10 touchdowns.
Watson, who was named the ACC Player of the Year on Wednesday, has completed 70.4 percent of his passes for 3,223 yards and 27 touchdowns. He has also run for 756 yards and scored nine touchdowns.
The Clemson quarterback is the only player in the country to run for 750 yards and throw for 3,000.
“He’s done a tremendous job at Clemson,” Williams said. “He’s one of the guys I watch when we’re not watching to see how well he’s doing. I’m all up for guys doing it just like me. Guys like us don’t get too much credit, you know?
“People think we wouldn’t be able to make it to the pros with what we’re doing. But I look at him and he’s a phenomenal athlete. He’s done a great job to keep those guys 12-0.”
In the last eight games, Watson has helped the Tigers gain at least 512 yards in every game – a Clemson record. As for himself, he has gained at least 380 yards of total offense in the last five outing and seven of the last eight, and is averaging 414 total yards per game.
The one game he did not amass 300-plus yards of total offense came in the Tigers’ 58-0 win at Miami. He was pulled after the first possession in the third quarter with Clemson on top, 42-0.
With the ACC Championship Game just two days away, Watson isn’t nervous because, “I’m here for a reason. They recruited me to come here and lead this program and do the things I have been able to do so far,” he said.
And so far he has No. 1 Clemson is position to earn a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
“The moment for me has never been too big. I try not to make it big. It’s something I have been dreaming about and hoping for,” Watson said.
Watson admits every once in a while he thinks back to that first start and what he was able to accomplish against the Tar Heels that night. To him it was a special night. It was fun, but most importantly he and the Tigers got a win.
As for a repeat performance in the ACC Championship Game, Watson isn’t expecting it because he knows how much North Carolina has improved on defense. But he isn’t counting it out either.
“Who knows, maybe I will have more yards,” he smiled. “It just depends on the play and who executes better, and who wins the matchup. We will just have to find out Saturday and see what happens.”
Yes we will.