The first time Brandon Streeter met Deshaun Watson was when the future All-American and Heisman Trophy Finalist was in a hospital bed recovering from knee surgery.
“That is kind of one of the early interactions I had with Deshaun. I didn’t know him as a person, but I knew him as a player that I got to watch once or twice on TV,” Clemson’s quarterbacks coach said.
One of those games Streeter had the opportunity of watching was the Florida State game in Tallahassee, Fla. Though the Tigers’ lost in overtime, the former Clemson quarterback was amazed with what he saw out of Watson – a true freshman on the road against the defending national champions.
“I knew then there was something special about him,” Streeter said. “The unique ability he has – the poise that he carries. You just don’t see that from a true freshman.”
Against the Seminoles, Watson completed 19 of 28 passes for 266 yards. He also ran for 30 more yards and a score. Though he did not throw a touchdown, he did not throw an interception either.
“At a young age, he understands the big picture that a lot of kids don’t understand when they are done as a senior,” Streeter said.
Watson proved that again as a sophomore. Mature beyond his age, he put up numbers that have never been reached by a college quarterback at the FBS level. He threw for 4,104 yards and 35 touchdowns, while completing 68 percent of his passes. He also ran for another 1,105 yards and 12 more scores to become the first FBS quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards and run for another 1,000 in the same season.
His 5,209 yards of total offense, shattered the previous ACC record for total offense in one season.
“There are so many things he is good at. He is good with his legs, with his arm, his technique, as a leader, but most importantly he is a good kid and he is fun to work with because he wants to get better every day,” Streeter said. “That is what makes him so unique and so special, and that’s what makes it fun to come to work every day.”
Though he was a Heisman Finalist, a consensus First-Team All-American, the winner of the Davey O’Brien and Manning Awards as the nation’s best quarterback and as the winner of the Archie Griffin Award as the nation’s best player, Watson isn’t satisfied. He is driven to be better than ever before, and he wants to win a national championship.
“I really have to give him credit because he works at it,” Streeter said. “He is smart naturally, but he works hard at it. He takes notes, and it is unbelievable. The notes that he takes … He has a regiment every week of how he prepares for games. He watches film all the time and he utilizes those resources that help him become the best quarterback he can be.
“That is unique, but that is what makes him so special. On top of that are all of those talents that come along with it, but when you can pick apart a defense like he has done this year it is an attribute to his maturation process.”
The best examples of Watson’s ability to pick a part a defense can be seen in what he did against Boston College’s and Alabama’s defenses. When he played the Eagles—the nation’s best defensive unit in terms of yards allowed—BC was determined to make the sophomore sit in the pocket and read coverages.
No problem.
Watson threw for 420 yards while completing 27 of 41 passes. After throwing two early interceptions, he bounced back to throw three touchdown passes. He also ran for a touchdown as he finished the game with what was then a career-high 452 total yards.
Against Alabama in the National Championship Game—in what was being called the best defense in the history of college football—Watson lit the Crimson Tide up with both his arms and his legs. Watson set a National Championship game record for total offense (478 yards) and passing yards (405) while completing 30 of 47 passes. He threw four touchdown passes and rushed for 73 yards.
“He sees things sometimes we might not see because he obviously is standing back there and he is surveying that field. He comes to us sometimes before we get to him and he says, ‘Hey, this is what I’m seeing,’” Streeter said. “We just communicate. He is the type of guy when you ask him or tell him to do something he will go get it corrected. He is not a guy you have to go scream and yell at because he is so focused already.
“So we work well on a weekly basis on the preparation and just kind of feed off of each other. He has that maturity about him that he is able to understand what we are doing as a coaching staff. When we are talking through things, he wants to be a part of that and he is mature enough to do be a part of it.”
And that’s what makes Watson special as a college quarterback.
“I mean it is special. This whole experience this past year has been unbelievable,” Streeter said. “Coming from that time a year ago in that hospital room to now … It has been an unbelievable year.”
If you haven’t already order your copy today of Guts & Glory – Tales of Clemson’s Historic 2015 Football Season to help you celebrate and remember this special season.
