Just under ten months ago he hit Hunter Renfrow on a last-second touchdown to beat the top-ranked Crimson Tide for a National Championship Trophy. Now with the Houston Texans, Deshuan Watson is tearing up defenses in the National Football League. He was passed over 11 times before being picked up in April’s NFL Draft, and so far he has made every other team regret it.
It did not take long for Watson to be named the starter – he was on the field by the second half of the Texans’ first game. His first two games were less-than-stellar as the coaching staff opted to limit his playbook in favor of lowering the chances of turnovers. Three games in, however, he was allowed to let it fly, and the rest is history.
Just like at Clemson, Watson has been near unstoppable and has turned an anemic Houston offense into one of the best in the league. He has completed a solid 61.7% of his passes for 1,699 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just 8 interceptions. He has shown off his running abilities, as well, rushing for 269 yards and two scores on 36 carries.
His passing totals put him at 16th in the league despite the two ‘rookie safe-mode’ outings. Even more extraordinary, his passing touchdowns put him in a tie for first place with Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz. If he were to keep up his current pace of 274.2 yards, 2.7 scores, and 1.1 interceptions per game, Watson would end the regular season with 3,883 yards, 43 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. Not only would these numbers make him a shoo-in for Rookie of the Year, they would also vault him into the list of top-10 rookie quarterbacks of all time.
It is unrealistic to think he could stay as hot as he has been lately, but a superstar receiving corps of Will Fuller and DeAndre Hopkins – who together are tied for first in the NFL in touchdown receptions with seven apiece – in fact gives him a chance. With a multitude of defensive stars out for the year with injuries, the Texans will need everything Watson can give them for a shot at the playoffs.
In two games against Alabama’s typically stout defense, Deshaun Watson put up over 800 passing yards and seven touchdowns while being intercepted only once. In addition, he also ran 46 times for 116 yards and another score. Though the Tide bested his Tigers once, he would get the last laugh. In the time since, much respect has been sent Watson’s way by Tide players and fans. While it is never fun to lose in a championship game, all you can do is watch in awe with someone as good as Deshaun. Now, even the NFL is getting to see it.
