Watson discusses winning against Gamecocks with torn ACL

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Clemson starting quarterback Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson
So. Quarterback
#4 6-2, 205
Gainesville, GA
View Full Profile is currently rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered back in November 2014.

Watson spoke with USA Today's Dan Wolken recently about various topics including playing against South Carolina last season despite a serious knee injury.

"Watching Clemson lose five straight times to South Carolina, playing in that game was something I wanted to do," Watson said.

Watson led Clemson to a 35-17 victory against its hated in-state rival with 269 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and two rushing scores.

"My high school coach was a big Clemson fan and I told him, as long as I'm the starting quarterback here, I'm not going to lose to South Carolina. It's a big rivalry. Who wouldn't want to play in that game? It was a family decision. They put it on me, and it's what I wanted to do. Of course people say I have a future down the road (to protect), but I live in the moment and that moment was then and I wanted to play."

In his rookie campaign, Watson completed 67.9% of his passes for 1,466 yards (10.7 per attempt) with 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions for a tremendous quarterback rating of 188.57. He also had five scores rushing. Another superlative is that he had a nation's best 10.7 yards per pass attempt.

Watson should be ready to go from his torn ACL for fall practice in August.

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