Best Clemson football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore

It may be a crowd of college football greats trying to get onto the Clemson football Mount Rushmore, but the one place that’s entirely secure is that of Deshaun Watson. The quarterback for three years for the Tigers put a stamp on the program that is wholly unforgettable and that etched his name in the record books for good.

In his two seasons as the full-time starting quarterback in 2015 and 2016, Watson led the Tigers to two straight National Championship Games. And while they “only” captured one title in those two apperances, they were painfully close in the first meeting with Alabama before being thwarted.

Watson was also an individual monster over that span as well. Over his two seasons as the starter, Watson threw for 8,702 yards, 76 touchdowns and 30 interceptions while also rushing for 1,734 yards and 21 scores. For his trouble, he finished as a Heisman Trophy finalist twice in his college football career, though he missed out on capturing the honor both times.

Despite only two years as the starter, Watson is second all-time in career passing yards (10,163) along with the two best single-season marks in program history, second in career passing touchdowns (90) and second in total offensive yards and touchdowns as well. But even without the statistics, with his leadership, fire and team success, Deshaun Watson would likely still be among the greatest Tigers ever.

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