Clemson’s Deshaun Watson is The State’s Amateur Athlete of the Year

Whether he’s just wired differently or learned early in his life to compartmentalize his emotions, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is the epitome of “cool.”

Always has been.

“That’s just the type of person I am. I never really flinch or panic under pressure,” he said. “I just know what the situation is and where we need to go. The moment for me has never been too big. I try not to make it big.”

He struggled to remember the last time – if ever – he faced anxiety in a game.

It wasn’t his first snap as a quarterback – in seventh grade.

He had been playing slot receiver and linebacker. “I was one of the hardest hitters on the team,” he said.

But the starting quarterback – an eighth grader – was injured, and the coaches were scratching their heads. Watson had been a quarterback on a recreation team in grade school. Bruce Miller, his head coach at Gainesville (Ga.) High, was watching that day. Watson was “as skinny as you could get,” he said.

The legend was born when he threw a 67-yard touchdown pass on his first play at quarterback.

Since then, Watson said, “I go into each game confident, knowing I’m one of the best players on the field.”

Watson, who is 13-0 as the Clemson starting quarterback this season and 17-1 in his career, is The State’s Amateur Athlete of the Year.

With 3,512 passing yards, 887 rushing yards and 41 total touchdowns, Clemson’s first Heisman finalist (he finished third in the voting) has won numerous other honors. He was named to the Associated Press All-America first team, was the ACC Player of the Year and won the Davey O’Brien award, which goes to the nation’s top quarterback.

He set an ACC Championship Game record for total yards and touchdowns, earning the MVP Award in Clemson’s 45-37 victory against North Carolina that clinched a College Football Playoff bid and the top ranking when Clemson takes on No. 4 Oklahoma on New Year’s Eve in the Orange Bowl.

“Without the team, I wouldn’t be able to be a finalist for those awards,” he said.

Nor would Clemson be undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation without him.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 9:56 PM.