Nick Saban goes to a rare extreme praising Clemson's Deshaun Watson

Watson's title game performance against the Crimson Tide has him earning comparisons to the reigning NFL MVP by Alabama's coach

Alabama coach Nick Saban is going through ESPN's "Car Wash" on Tuesday, appearing on multiple programs and going through interviews with several of the outlet's college football reporters. Since Saban's views on player discipline were mostly covered during his spat with Paul Finebaum at SEC Media Days, the most interesting nugget from Tuesday's time on-air was actually a comment on Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Watson became the first player in FBS history with 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards following his 405-yard performance against Alabama in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship, tossing four touchdowns in a brilliant performance against the best defense in the country. He was also a finalist who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting a year ago.

When discussing Watson, Saban told ESPN that the Clemson quarterback was the most dominant player he had faced as a coach since Heisman Trophy winner and reigning NFL MVP Cam Newton.

"That guy's the most significantly dominant player we played against since Cam Newton in 2010. ... That guy coming back for that team is going to make them a very, very competitive team in terms of being in the championship arena again," Saban said on ESPN's College Football Live.

Yeah, that's some high praise.

There will be no player in college football that demands your attention quite like Watson in 2016. He will be touted as a (or the) "Heisman frontrunner" from the start of the season, a title that comes with constant television coverage and an expectation of near-perfection against a tough 2016 schedule that starts under the lights at Auburn and includes a trip to Tallahassee, Florida, for the annual clash with Florida State.

Watson has already faced tougher tests and survived, including that memorable performance against Alabama that has Saban singing his praises. He's battled back from multiple injuries while continuing to maintain his ability to burn defenses with his legs and make every throw on the field, including a picture-perfect deep ball that gets delivered on a rope to any of the Tigers' talented wideouts.

Watson runs the Clemson offense, originated by now-SMU coach Chad Morris, at a break-neck pace and and only had a few missteps during that incredible 2015 campaign.

It's no surprise that Saban thinks so highly of Watson, but I'm sure he'd rather not have to face No. 4 again in 2016.