PHOENIX – Count Nick Saban among the many folks who think Deshaun Watson is among the best quarterbacks in college football.

Clemson’s Heisman finalist was a Tiger commitment before Alabama and the Tide rolled through with an offer.

On Monday night, Saban’s No. 2 ranked defense will try to keep Watson at bay in the National Championship.

“I don’t know that anybody stops Deshaun Watson,” Saban said. “I think that you’re talking about a phenomenal player, a player who can beat you in a lot of different ways, in terms of his passing ability, his ability to execute their offense effectively, can make plays with his legs, can make plays and extend plays in the passing game.

“And I think he truly, truly understands what they want him to do and really gets it done on a pretty consistent basis, which makes them have the kind of prolific offense that they have.”

Watson has 3,699 yards passing and 1,032 yards rushing this season. With 301 more yards through the air, he’ll become the first player in FBS history with 4,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in a single season.

“I think, when you play against someone like this, you have poise in how you play one play at a time in the game for 60 minutes…knowing that the other team is going to make some plays,” Saban said, “But how you respond to the next play is going to be the real key, because with the pace of play and with a player like him, you know, you can’t get on a roll, let them get on a roll based on how you respond defensively.”

When it comes to finding a quarterback who suits Clemson’s hurry-up, no-huddle attack, Watson fits the bill to a tee. Saban believes the sophomore quarterback from Gainesville, Ga. has “a great understanding” of how to execute it at the highest level.

“He can run effectively as a quarterback,” Saban said. “He uses all the other weapons that they have on offense to his advantage, whether it’s their running back or the receivers in implementing the things that they can take advantage of with the way they play offense.”

Saban added, “This is one of the truly great football players in college football, I think.”