Clemson’s Watson picked as nation’s top quarterback
Deshaun Watson is the nation’s top quarterback, according to one website.
Sports on Earth ranked the top-25 QBs, where the sophomore came out on top versus gunslingers from Southern Cal (Cody Kessler), Ohio State (the trio of Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller) and TCU (Trevone Boykin).
An excerpt:
“He’s mature beyond his years as a quarterback, with a command of the offense, a strong arm, confidence, poise and mobility – all of which he showed the minute he stepped onto the field. If he stays healthy, he’s a superstar and a Heisman candidate, whether it’s this year or next. Despite the hang-ups entering 2015, it’s worth betting on his stardom sooner rather than later.”
Vegas odds have the Gainesville (Ga.) product at the back of top-10 (14-1) behind five other QBs and tied with OSU’s Miller. A quarterback has won the Heisman Trophy eight of the past nine seasons.
Clemson is set to face five signal-callers on the list – four in conference play.
No. 11 Justin Thomas (Georgia Tech): As always, the passing game revolved around downfield throws to complement the option game, which is why he averaged 9.2 yards per attempt with a 51.3 percent completion rate. Thomas also played some of his best football against quality defenses, with over 100 rushing yards vs. Virginia Tech, Florida State and Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl.
No. 13 Brad Kaaya (Miami): Like just about any young player, his completion percentage was a touch low and his interceptions were high, but his potential is undeniable – and all but three of those interceptions came in the first six games, when he was settling into the position. Now, it’s a matter of overcoming the losses of the offense’s best players: tailback Duke Johnson, tackle Ereck Flowers, receiver Phillip Dorsett and tight end Clive Walford.
No. 18 Jacoby Brissett (N.C. State)
No. 24 Malik Zaire (Notre Dame).
No. 25 Everett Golson (Florida State): When he’s good, he can look really good: He can move in the pocket, he can go through his progressions and he’s accurate. Against Syracuse, he completed 25 passes in a row. He’s a better quarterback than he was as a freshman in leading Notre Dame to an undefeated regular season. But the inability to take care of the ball is a killer. We’ll see which version of Golson shows up under Jimbo Fisher’s tutelage for his final season in Tallahassee as a graduate transfer and if he can beat Sean Maguire for the Seminoles’ starting job.