If you turn on ESPN or ESPNU these days, odds are Deshaun Watson’s name or face will come up on your television alongside other Heisman hopefuls. If you turn on the radio, someone is talking about his amazing skill set, and how he is the best quarterback in the country.
I’m writing about him, as are other writers, while Clemson fans are dreaming and talking about national championships. One former Clemson player I recently spoke to, who had a long career in the NFL, asked me if I thought too much pressure was being put on Watson.
“He is a 19-year old kid, I just wonder if we are expecting too much from him,” the player asked. “Don’t get me wrong, he is cool. He is as cool under pressure as anyone I have seen, but he is still a 19-year old kid and there will still be some growing pains he is going to experience.
“We have only seen a small sample size of what he can do. I just worry that we are putting too much pressure on him.”
But Watson isn’t worried about it. He tries not to watch the television, listen to the radio or read the stories that are written about him. He just does his job and let’s everything take care of itself.
“I just let them talk,” he said. “I just have to do what I can do. I know how I can play and what I can control. I just go out there and play each game the same. Our standard here is the best so I want to play my best and let everything else take care of itself.”
Watson will try to play his best on Saturday when the 12th-ranked Tigers host Wofford in the season opener in Death Valley. He says his goals for Saturday’s game are simple … “I just want to help my team win.”
“I don’t want to leave no regrets on the field no matter who we are playing,” he said. “I just want to go out there and just really have fun. It’s a game I love to play. I put in so much work and time just to go out there for twelve Saturdays.
“I just want to go out there, have some fun and leave no doubt.”
And he isn’t going to worry about any expectations while he does it.