Everyone knows Deshaun Watson’s story.
He grew up in Gainesville, Ga., where he was the second oldest child in a single-parent home. When he was 11-years old, his mom, Deann, was presented a Habitat for Humanity home thanks to former Florida State and Atlanta Falcons great Warrick Dunn.
A few years later, when he was becoming a budding football star for the Red Elephants, Deann was diagnosed with mouth cancer and lost her tongue in the process. Watson says his mom’s strength to battle through the cancer, while teaching herself how to talk again, played a huge role in the man he has become as well as how to handle the adversity he faces on the football field and in life.
His mom’s life experiences, has allowed Watson to keep football in perspective.
But what most people don’t know about Watson is that he was Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan’s ball boy from the time he was in the ninth grade all the way through his senior year.
“I had a pleasure to see him work and I’m proud of all the accomplishments he is having and all of the success,” Watson said on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike on Friday. “Hopefully, he can bring it back to the city.”
Of course Ryan and the Falcons are in Super Bowl LI where they will play the New England Patriots on Sunday in Houston. Two of Watson’s old Clemson teammates—defensive end Vic Beasley and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett—are starters on Atlanta’s defense as well so it’s pretty obvious who Watson will be pulling for on Sunday night.
As for being Ryan’s ball boy for four seasons, Watson said he learned a lot about how to be prepared and how to be focused on the game by watching Ryan.
“He taught me how to work,” Watson said. “Even in warmups, he is in full sweat and he is working. He is being technically sound and he is coaching up the guys. That is just warmups. So how he goes about his business … He is locked in and is laser focused.
“Sometimes, it is easy to get drifted away and think about other things, but he is just locked in.”
Watson was the same way at Clemson. On game days, his focus never left the field, which explains why he was 32-3 as a starter and led the Tigers to a national championship just a little more than three weeks ago.
Watson is in Houston this week to watch the Super Bowl and pull for his Falcons. He will then return back to California where he will continue to work out with his trainer Jordan Palmer. Watson will throw in the NFL Scouting Combine later this month and will be back in Clemson next month for Pro Day.
The 2017 NFL Draft will be held April 27-29 in Philadelphia, Pa.
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