This week, we are taking a look at some Gamecock Killers for Clemson football. Today, we celebrate quarterback Deshaun Watson.
This week, we have taken a look at some of the greatest Gamecock killers in Clemson football history.
We’ve looked at Charlie Whitehurst, Tommy Bowden, and Rod Gardner, but now it’s time to look at one just a bit more recent.
Maybe, the best Clemson football player to ever put on the orange and purple. Today, we take a look at Deshaun Watson.
So, what makes Deshaun Watson a Gamecock killer?
Let’s take a look at the journey.
It all started with a simple promise:
Before arriving on campus back in 2014, Watson made a promise to one of his coaches at Gainesville High School that he wouldn’t just reverse Clemson’s losing streak to South Carolina, but that he would never lose to the Gamecocks.
As a freshman in 2014, Deshaun Watson reversed the “Chicken curse,” but it wasn’t just winning, it was how he won: On one leg.
Watson entered the game with a torn ACL and beat the Gamecocks despite the injury. He finished with 269 yards passing and accounted for four touchdowns.
In 2015, Watson went into Williams-Brice Stadium and battled an emotionally charged Gamecock team to pick up a 37-32 win.
And then came Deshaun Watson’s final year with Clemson football. In 2016, he and fellow Tigers Wayne Gallman, Artavis Scott, Mike Williams, and several others put on a show that the Clemson faithful will never forget.
The Tigers defeated the Gamecocks 56-7, good enough for the second-largest beating in rivalry history.
Watson tied his career high and the school’s record with six touchdown passes. He had 347 yards passing in a little over a half.
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The complete domination of South Carolina allowed Watson to fulfill his promise with flying colors, vaulting him into the ranks of “Gamecock killer.”
Gamecock killers