Two-time national finalist and Clemson's greatest quarterback — the most clutch college player of his era.
Deshaun Watson was born in Gainesville, Georgia in 1995. He attended Clemson University and led the Tigers to the national championship in 2016, completing the season with a touchdown pass with one second remaining to defeat Alabama 35-31 in one of the greatest college football games ever played. He appeared in two national championship games (losing to Alabama in 2015 and defeating them in 2016). His three-year career produced 10,168 passing yards, 1,934 rushing yards and 116 total touchdowns — one of the finest statistical three-year careers in ACC history. He finished runner-up for the Heisman Trophy twice, in 2015 and 2016. He won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best quarterback and the ACC Player of the Year award. Houston Texans selected him 12th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was a Pro Bowl quarterback before multiple civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct — which he settled without admission of liability — led to an 11-game NFL suspension in 2022. His Clemson career and the 2016 championship game performance represent the finest individual clutch performance by a college quarterback in the modern era.
National Championship (2016)
Career Honours
- National Championship (2016)
- Heisman Trophy runner-up 2x
- Davey O'Brien Award
- ACC Player of Year