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Deshaun Watson had an extraordinary college career at Clemson, finishing it with a national title win against Alabama. In three seasons, Watson not only won a national title but two ACC titles as well, going 33-5 in his 38 games with the Tigers. One thing he did not win, however, was a Heisman Trophy.
As he prepares for the NFL Draft, Watson got together with ESPN’s Jon Gruden as part of his “Gruden’s QB Camp,” and that topic came up. When Gruden asked Watson what he needed to do to win the Heisman, Watson threw some shade Lamar Jackson’s way.
“I’m not sure,” said Watson when asked how to win the Heisman. “I guess lose a couple of games?”
As you’ll recall, even though Lamar Jackson and Louisville had a fantastic start to the 2016 season, the finish was a bit rough. The Cardinals lost their last three games of the season with Jackson struggling. That didn’t do anything to diminish his Heisman candidacy -- and that final loss in the bowl game against LSU came after the trophy had been handed out.
Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I’m a Heisman voter, and I voted for Lamar Jackson. It wasn’t due to anything against Watson, who definitely had a spectacular career. It’s just Watson played his best game of the season in the national title game against Alabama, well after the votes had been cast. And even if the end of the season wasn’t kind to Lamar Jackson, it didn’t change the fact that he was stringing together ridiculous performances for the first two months of the year.
Besides, while winning the Heisman would have been nice, if you ask Deshaun if he’d rather have it or the national title, it’s not hard to figure out how he’d answer. Jackson would give you the same one.
