Q&A: Watson continues to take it all in stride -- even after stellar collegiate start

Posted 5:17PM on Wednesday, October 1, 2014

The rest of the nation is learning what people around northeast Georgia have known for years: Deshaun Watson is a phenom. The quarterback spent four seasons shredding high school defenses at Gainesville and is now starting to do the same to collegiate opposition after working his way into the starting spot at Clemson -- in just his fourth game as a true freshman with the Tigers. Fittingly, Watson set a new Clemson record in his first-ever collegiate start, tossing six touchdown passes in a 50-35 defeat of North Carolina. The performance came just one week after Watson nearly led the Tigers to an upset of No. 1-ranked and defending national champion Florida State. With all of the national media getting cranked up on Watson's abilities, Access North Georgia.com sports editor Morgan Lee caught up with the freshman -- who still made time for the local folks -- to talk about his incredible start, his learning curve at the collegiate level, what he thinks of the current Gainesville squad and fellow former GHS standout Blake Sims -- another QB enjoying a stellar collegiate season (at Alabama). And, by the way, Watson was as polite and humble as ever. Read on to see what the quarterback had to say... QUESTION: After your incredible performance last week are things kind of a whirlwind for you right now? ANSWER: A little bit, just knowing that I'm setting records in my first start and first time playing a full game; that was a pretty cool experience to have this weekend. Q: You knew you had a chance to play this season, but did you expect to come in and have this kind of an impact? A: Not at all to be honest. I knew they said they were going to give me an opportunity to see what I can do on game day, and that's what I've been doing the first few games. The opportunity came and I took advantage of it, and now I'm the starter, and they're getting me prepared and ready for each week. Q: You played so many games in high school, did that help you get ready for the collegiate experience, and is the game already starting to 'slow down' for you at the next level? A: It is, especially coming in the spring -- with spring experiences and now fall camp going against our defense every day, which is one of the top defenses in the country, it's been huge. The game has kind of slowed down when I come out on Saturdays; I can make my reads better and clearer and I just go out there and have fun. Q: Just how tough has it been for you to get up to speed at the collegiate level? A: It's very tough, sometimes in high school you didn't have to play as hard every play, but at this level you have to bring your 'A' game every play. If not you'll get exposed real quick, so you always have to keep working and that saying no days off is really something you have to do at this level because you never know when the next minute is up. Q: You went into Florida State and so nearly knocked off the defending champs. I know you lost the game, and that had to be disappointing, but what was that experience like? A: It was great, something I'd never experienced before, very loud and it was actually fun. It was a blessing to go out there against the No. 1 team in country. Most teams don't get the opportunity to go out there and play at that competition level. It was really great. I wish we could have pulled it out, but it was a learning experience and something that we can build on. Q: How much better can Clemson's offense get? How much better can you get this season? A: We still have a long way to go, and there's something that we can build on every week. We had a big week this past weekend, but we had a couple of mistakes we can build on and try to have a perfect game next week. The sky's the limit for this offense and this team. Q: You dealt with a decent amount of media during your high school career, but what's it like now. How much attention are you starting to receive? A: It's every week, every Monday a lot of cameras in your face and after the game, and it's something that comes with the position I play and being the quarterback of a big-time college program; it's kind of intense. All eyes are on you so you kind of have to make sure your leading this program in the right way. Q: Off the subject, but you followed Blake Sims as the starting quarterback at Gainesville, and now he's also having a big season as a college QB (at Alabama). I know you have plenty to worry about on your own, but when you heard Sims would be given a chance to start did you think he would have the kind of season he's having? A: I was expecting nothing less than what he's doing now. Blake's a great guy, and I've always had confidence that he could play at that level whenever his opportunity came, and this year his opportunity came. I know he's been doing great and working hard and waiting for this moment, so he's going to take advantage of it. And it's great to see someone that I looked up to and am still looking up to to this day doing great things. He loves what he's doing and is leading his program down at Alabama to some big victories. Q: How often do you get a chance to talk with folks back in Gainesville -- former teammates, coaches or friends? A: I try to talk to them at least once a week. I have a little brother on the team (at Gainesville), and then I talk to (current Red Elephants starting QB) Mikey Gonzalez a lot and some of the other skill guys that were around that I played with -- and I try to touch base with them and make sure they're doing right and that they're staying focused and try to do the best they can do for that program down there. Q: You were back in town for Gainesville's game against Winder-Barrow (a 46-6 win on Sept. 12); what did you think of Gonzalez's performance in that game? A: He looked good. I was proud of him. I love seeing him perform. He's been waiting for his opportunity and now it's his time to shine and that's what he's been doing, making sure he can maximize all the ability he can just to get the 'W' and lead that team. Q: Does Clemson have the ability to go undefeated the rest of the way? A: I think so. We just have to take it one week at a time and focus on that one game each week. We can't look forward to the future. We have a great schedule, a tough schedule. We have to play hard and play to our maximum ability and work each week to get the 'W.' Q: What has been the biggest eye-opener for you since you arrived at Clemson -- on or off the field? A: Really maximizing all your time during the football season. You have football, which is pretty much a job here. You have to always be prepared and study the game, and then you have school work that you have to maximize too. So just balancing all that out is pretty intense, but it's something I can handle, and I've been handling it very well. Watson will lead the Tigers (2-2) into an Atlantic Coast Conference showdown with N.C. State (4-1) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Clemson. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.