Some colleges are changing their sales pitch for Deshaun Watson, the Gainesville High School football star who is ranked as the nation’s No. 1-ranked prospect at quarterback and committed to Clemson.
However, like with most elite prospects, Watson’s early commitment to Clemson hasn’t caused competing schools to blink.
The sleepy city of Gainesville, located 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, has been one of the state’s most popular stops for college scouts this spring: Alabama, Ohio State, LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, Cal, Ole Miss, UGA, Louisville, Oregon – of course, Clemson -- and others have all made visits to glance at the wonder boy who is considered the state’s best QB prospect since Cam Newton.
“Every school is interested in him,” Gainesville coach Bruce Miller said. “The schools that are still after him, some of them have said 'We're not trying to pressure you out of your commitment. Just remember us and know that we showed interest if something happens with your plan to go to Clemson.’”
Right now, Watson said the plan remains the same – to sign with Clemson and enroll early next January. But he couldn’t ignore the line of scouts that showed up at Gainesville’s spring practices over the last two weeks.
“No worries (about all the other colleges); That’s the whole point of the recruiting thing and process,” Watson said. “That’s going to keep on happening. I can’t tell them to stop coming by here. They can still come by and check out another player on my team, but still watch me.
“You know, I can’t ever tell a school not to recruit me because it’s an honor and a privilege for them to throw me a full ride offer and (tell) me to come play at the school and get a free education.”
Alabama is Watson’s most recent suitor, extending a scholarship offer last week. “They kind of told me two weeks ago,” Watson said. “They called Coach, and told him that I had an offer and they were coming to visit. And, you know, it’s a big thing getting offered by the national champs. It’s pretty cool getting to talk to the quarterbacks coach a little bit and see how they run things. He knows I’m committed to Clemson. He’s like ‘If anything happens, they want to be right behind (Clemson).’”
What was Alabama’s sale pitch? “The chance to play for a national championship, and AJ (McCarron) is leaving next year. The job is wide open. They feel like I’m the type of player that can keep on winning national championships for them.”
Everybody wants a piece of ESPN's No. 1-ranked QB these days, and the recruiting process has been fast, furious and dizzying. Last month, Watson told reporters at the Atlanta Elite 11 QB camp that he planned to take all five official visits as a senior. A couple of weeks later, Watson told the AJC that he changed his mind and wouldn’t take official visits to anywhere but Clemson.
Has anything changed after Gainesville was bombarded with college coaches over the last few weeks? On Friday, Watson simply said that he’s “100-percent committed” to Clemson and that he “hasn’t really been thinking about recruiting” because he was consumed with his team’s spring workouts which ended on Friday.
However, Watson does have a shortlist of “fallback schools” in case the circumstances change at Clemson. “For me, it would be Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, USC and Oregon,” he said.
Watson seems to be a pretty safe bet to sign with Clemson in February unless something unusual happens. You never know in college football (see Auburn, two years after winning a national title). The two closest contenders would probably be Ohio State and Auburn, with UGA listed as the darkhorse candidate.
UGA, located around 40 miles from Gainesville, might’ve been a more serious contender had the Bulldogs offered earlier. UGA defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who has the Gainesville area in his recruiting territory, reportedly wanted to offer Watson as a sophomore but couldn’t get clearance from the staff. They were probably worried about it negatively affecting QB Brice Ramsey, who stuck with his longtime commitment and signed with the Bulldogs this past year after heavy flirtations with Alabama.
Watson, who was offered by Clemson after his freshman season and committed after his sophomore season, was finally offered by UGA after his junior season last January. It may have been too late, but Bulldogs offensive coordinator Mike Bobo spent a couple of hours observing Gainesville’s practice last week. Watson is the only QB that UGA has offered for 2014.
Auburn may be the non-Clemson school that is charging the hardest after Watson. New offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee stopped by Gainesville last week, and is trying to build a relationship with Watson. What’s Auburn sales pitch? Do they think he can be another Cam Newton? ““It’s the same as the other schools,” Watson said. “They want me to come down and visit, if I ever get the chance. But they are going to keep on recruiting me (until signing day). It’s the same thing the other coaches have said. ‘If anything ever happens with Clemson, they want to be behind.’” Lashlee is desperately trying to get Watson to attend Auburn’s “Big Cat” recruiting weekend in two weeks. “I’m not sure yet; I haven’t really been thinking about that,” Watson said.
If Ohio State wasn’t located so far away, it might be a more serious contender. Watson was a childhood fan of Urban Meyer when he coached at Florida. He also liked the way Meyer used a certain quarterback. “Tim Tebow is one of my people I look up to,” Watson said. “I’ve really grown up watching him play. One day I watched his high school documentary, and I fell in love with his game, the way he gives glory to God, and he just leads his team.”
Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman visited Gainesville last week, and the Buckeyes – despite reports to contrary – haven’t definitely “moved on” or given up on the idea of luring away Watson.
“No, they just told me they offered other quarterbacks,” Watson said. “I understand that, of course. That’s every college, offering quarterbacks because they’ve always got to protect their jobs, too, and make sure they have someone. They’re going to recruit me hard and if anything happens, if I want to come visit or decide to come there, it’s open.”
Which colleges may get unofficial visits from Watson this summer? Right now, there’s only one penciled in – Clemson on June 12. And that may be it. “I’m not sure yet. I really haven’t made up my mind. I’m not even sure I will.”
But Watson will surely be going to a few other events. He will attend the Rivals.com Five-Star Challenge in Chicago in early June, and fly to Oregon for The Opening and Elite 11 QB camp at Nike World Headquarters from June 30 to July 3. Both camps will feature hundreds of the nation’s top prospects, and Watson said he’ll be decked out in bright orange Clemson gear.
Clemson is reportedly “a little nervous” about other colleges visiting Gainesville over the last month, but what can they really say or do about it? The Tigers are pursuing elite prospects committed to other colleges, too. This is just normal business in the wacky world of recruiting. The all-out pursuit for the franchise quarterback will go until signing day.
“Clemson just tells me it’s part of recruiting,” Watson said. “(Offensive coordinator Chad Morris) and Coach Swinney know the situation – that every school is going to want me. They told me that two years ago when I first made that commitment. They said ‘Stay strong' and that’s what I’ve been doing.”
QUICK HITS WITH DESHAUN
On knee injury to Clemson backup QB Chad Kelly, probably Deshaun's top competition in the future: “Me and Chad Kelly, we’re always texting. I’m looking forward to me and him getting up there with him, and working with each other. I sent him a text message to tell him he’s in my prayers and to get well soon. He got back to me and said thanks. We’re still going to compete. He’s going to be back around the time I get up there (in January 2014). It’s (injures) part of the game … he has to recover. When he gets back, we’re just going to compete for the job, and the best man wins. I’m looking forward to getting up there, and learning from him. He has been there two years, so I can learn more when I step on campus. I’m looking forward to competing.”
On tight end Milan Richard committing to Clemson: “It’s very huge. We were talking earlier and he was down to Georgia, South Carolina and Clemson. He was going to take the visits. I told him to take the visits, and chose where you feel best and (most) comfortable at. He choose Clemson, so I’m looking forward to being teammates with him.”
RECRUITING HEADLINES
AND MORE
INSTANT CLASSICS
THE LOCAL BOYS
.
You're Almost Done!
Select a display name and password
{* #socialRegistrationForm *} {* socialRegistration_displayName *} {* socialRegistration_emailAddress *} {* traditionalRegistration_password *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirm *}Tell us about yourself
{* registration_firstName *} {* registration_lastName *} {* registration_postalZip *} {* registration_birthday *} {* registration_gender *} {* agreeToTerms *}