Everyone at Clemson knows the story. It’s a story of legend in the Clemson-Carolina series.

Despite having a torn ACL in his left knee, Deshaun Watson threw for 269 yards on 14-of-19 passing and totaled four touchdowns in leading the Tigers to a 35-17 victory over the Gamecocks, snapping Clemson’s five-game losing streak to its most hated rival.

When the news broke that Watson, a freshman at the time, did all of that on a torn ACL after the game, everyone was surprised, everyone except for his high school coach Bruce Miller. Just a year earlier, he saw the same exact thing from Watson in a state playoff semifinal game against Tucker.

With about eight minutes to play, Watson injured the same knee. It was the first time in his career at Gainesville (Ga.) High School he had ever been hurt. It was the first time in his football career he had ever been hurt. The doctor put a sleeve on it and reported Watson could not run on it. He more than likely was out for the game.

Or so they thought.

With about three minutes to play, and his team down six points, Watson stands next to Miller and says, “I’m ready to go back in Coach. I may not be able to run, but I can still throw.”

After trying to convince Watson they did not need him and that he needed to rest his knee, Watson insisted he could play and Miller gave in. The Red Elephants did not score and ultimately lost the game. However, it was a moment that proved Watson does not care about individual success, records or any of that. He’s a competitor. If he can stand up, he’s going to play.

“There is a kid that could have easily stayed seated and said my high school career is over and I have bigger and better things to come. But that is just not him,” Miller said. “He went back in the game. Of course we did not win it. We got beat 20-14, but it’s just his makeup. I tell people all the time, it is never about Deshaun

“It does not matter. It is all about the team.”