Watson’s numbers attracting Heisman Trophy attention

At his present pace there’s a reasonable chance that Deshaun Watson, top-ranked Clemson’s quarterback, will receive an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremonies next month in New York City.

Jordan Leggett said he wanted to be there, too.

“I definitely plan on being there,” said Leggett, a semifinalist for the Mackey Award to the top tight end, “and I hope he takes me with him.”

For the third time this season Watson was named Atlantic Coast Conference offensive back of the week. Watson continued to appear on virtually every list of potential Heisman candidates, and the Heisman folks have notified him that they are watching.

“We are witnessing one of the best players at Clemson,” said co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott. “He’s very special, and we’re going to go offensively how he goes.”

With the way he played in Clemson’s first 10 games, the numbers are awe striking.

Watson completed 34 of 47 passes for 360 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 13 times for a team-high 101 yards and a touchdown in Clemson’s 37-27 win against Syracuse to become only the second player to throw for 350 yards and rush for 100 in the same game. The total offense – 461 yards – was the fifth highest total by a Clemson player, and the 34 completions were third highest.

More reflective could be the fact that with Watson as the starter Clemson has won 11 straight games. His 14-1 overall record was marred only by the loss last season at Georgia Tech after he tore a knee ligament.

After three injuries a year ago, questions about his staying power have been silenced, particularly with his role as a runner expanding. Watson is 9^th in the ACC with 598 rushing yards. UNC’s Marquise Williams is the quarterback leader with 659.

“Early on this year we weren’t as aggressive in running him,” Scott said. “As the year has gone he wants to run the ball.”

At Syracuse, he asked Scott and Coach Dabo Swinney to entrust him on third-an-one.

“I think that right there from your quarterback, especially a talented guy like him, that says a lot that he’s wanting to carry the ball,” Scott said.

“You can see that look in his eye, so that was pretty good to see.”

No big deal, Watson said. “I just walked up to coach Swinney and coach Scott and just tell them, ‘Hey, give me the ball. I want it.’ They’re like, ‘Alright…’ That’s pretty much it.”

And obviously there’s no mystery for Clemson’s next four opponents beginning Saturday with Wake Forest in the final game of the season at Death Valley. The early lines had Clemson a 30-point favorite, largely because of an offense that’s topped 500 yards in each of its last six games.

Consensus No. 1 in the polls and the College Football Playoff rankings, Clemson faces pressure this week, next at South Carolina and the following Saturday in Charlotte for the ACC Championship.

Watson said he’s a perfectionist, and that he works at minimizing the impact of a mistake, not permitting the frustration to linger.

Winning should provide a huge boost to Watson’s candidacy for the Heisman. There’s no clear frontrunner. Alabama’s Derrick Henry pushed through the pack of running backs on several lists and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield has joined Watson as the quarterbacks to beat.

“Just for me, with the Heisman talk and all the other stuff that’s going on, I just worry about myself and my teammates,” Watson said. “I don’t worry about all that other stuff. That will take care of itself.”

Watson said it would be an honor to receive an invitation to New York, to win the Heisman on Dec. 12. And he would celebrate with his family, his coaches and teammates.