Clemson Football Recruiting: Trevor Lawrence better HS prospect than Deshaun Watson?
Under Dabo Swinney the Clemson football program has consistently had some of the best quarterback play in the nation. That rich tradition looks to continue with 2018 quarterback commit, Trevor Lawrence.
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Lawrence is the top quarterback prospect in the country according to ever major recruiting service (rivals, ESPN, 247sports, etc.), but is he a better high school prospect than former Clemson Tiger Deshaun Watson?
As crazy as it sounds, yes.
Both Watson and Lawrence led their respective high school teams to Georgia State Championships, however, Lawrence is more advanced as a passer at this point in his career than Watson was.
Watson had good arm strength coming out of Gainesville high school. Lawrence on the other than has rare arm talent for a high school quarterback, he can drive the ball into tight windows and has the touch to drop it in the bucket down the field.
See also: Analyzing 2018 Clemson Commit Trevor Lawrence
Deshaun Watson was without a doubt the better athlete coming out of high school, however, he was not the only quarterback in his class with above average athleticism. Trevor Lawrence is in a class of his own from an arm talent standpoint, no other quarterback prospect compares.
Lawrence also has an edge over Watson from a pocket awareness standpoint. Watson is a highly intelligent football player, however, he was not as polished in the pocket coming out of high school. Lawrence on the other hand, displays great instincts and understands when to bail out of the pocket and when to step up and make a throw.
The last advantage is obvious and that is size. Trevor Lawrence has more than adequate size at 6-foot-6, 196 pounds, while Watson stands 6-foot-2, 222 pounds.