Clemson QB Deshaun Watson: I'm the best player in the country

The Clemson quarterback's confidence isn't shaken one bit by not being named the Heisman winner

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson was to many the second-best player in college football in 2016. The consensus No. 1 player was Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, who kept Watson from winning the Heisman Trophy and even bumped him to second-team All-ACC.

Heading into the Tigers' College Football Playoff semifinal against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, Watson isn't fazed by being the Heisman runner-up a year after finishing third in voting. Watson remains confident in his abilities and told reporters Monday that he believes he is the nation's best player, whether the voters do or not.

"I'm the best player in the country. That's how I think. That's how I feel. People have their own way of voting," Watson said Monday, according to the Associated Press.

In case Watson needed any more affirmation of his talents from those around him, coach Dabo Swinney and star receiver Mike Williams stuck up for their quarterback Monday as well.

"He knows he is the best player in the country. He doesn't need a trophy to say that," Williams said.

"I think Deshaun is so good, people are numb to it," Swinney said.

Watson's 2016 season wasn't quite as good individually as his 2015 campaign, but he still impressed with 3,914 yards passing, 37 touchdowns and 15 interceptions on a 67.6 completion percentage and 529 yards and six touchdowns rushing.

While he wasn't able to capture the individual award that eluded him in 2015, Watson and the Tigers do have the opportunity to avenge last season's 45-40 loss in the national championship game to Alabama with two more wins. With the Heisman already gone, that opportunity to claim the team title that he missed out on so narrowly a year ago is now Watson's lone focus.