INSIDE THE PLAYOFF: How Cam Newton inspired Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson said he met Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton when he was in high school, and the two are still friends.

"We've always had a good relationship," Watson said. "As we talk, each and every year it keeps growing. We always have that close bond and we're both each other's biggest supporters, cheering each other on."

Watson also grew up a big fan of Tim Tebow. He said he usually chose to be the Florida Gators when playing NCAA Football video games.

"I used to love playing with Tim Tebow, and then as I got older, I started playing with Oregon a little bit more. I just liked to spread the teams around and do the up-tempo things."

Watson said he feels his dual-threat ability should help, not hurt, his NFL prospects.

"A lot of people think that being a dual threat, you can't really throw the ball. Well, it's really not about throwing for 400 yards every game. It's about getting the 'W,'" Watson said. "There's a lot of quarterbacks that can run and have been successful doing it at the next level.

"Cam Newton is one right now. Michael Vick in his younger days. Alex Smith is doing a great job. I could go on and on. Russell Wilson. There's a lot of guys out there that can do both and be successful."

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Of the 14 Clemson players and four Oklahoma players who call Florida home, Oklahoma safety Ahmad Thomas is the only one from either team in the Orange Bowl who is from Miami.

So this national semifinal is a bit of a homecoming.

The former Miami Central High standout, whose final regular-season game in high school was a win at Sun Life Stadium, said he received 120 text messages immediately after Oklahoma's bowl announcement "from people I never even heard of, from friends I didn't even know I had," looking for tickets.

He has collected 16 so far, but said he needs "at least 40." Thomas, who wears No. 13 in honor of his grandmother, Shirley Thomas, who died from cancer when he was 13 years old, said he grew up in a rough neighborhood and many of his childhood friends are now dead or in jail.

"I see that on Facebook when I'm up at Oklahoma and I'm looking at that thinking, "I'm glad I left because I could have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time."