Watson wins SC HOF Collegiate Player of the Year

David Wyatt (L) and Deshaun Watson at the announcement press conference

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Wed Jan 27 18:35:20 GMT-04:00 2016

GREENVILLE – Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson was named as the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame’s Collegiate Player of the Year Wednesday evening. The announcement was made prior to Clemson’s ACC home basketball contest against Pitt at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

The award is given to the top player who either hails from the state of South Carolina or plays football in the state.

"It's an honor. I want to thank the South Carolina Hall of Fame Football Club for giving me the award and for picking me to be the player of the year. It's huge," Watson said. "It's truly a blessing to just be able to receive it. All of the hard work I've been putting in and the players and coaches that surround me make me better. Having that supporting cast around me makes me a better player."

Watson completed 333-of-491 passes for 4,104 yards and 35 touchdowns and also had 207 rushes for 1,105 yards and 12 scores this past season. He became the first player in NCAA FBS history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.

Watson, a sophomore out of Gainesville, Ga., led the Tigers to a 14-1 record, an ACC Atlantic Division and the ACC Championship. He quarterbacked Clemson to a dominating win over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl and the College Football Playoff Semifinal, and was outstanding against Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship against Alabama.

The Crimson Tide defeated Clemson 45-40 earlier this month to win the title. Watson, who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, had 478 total yards against Alabama. Watson had 20 carries for 73 yards and was 30-of-47 for 405 yards and four touchdowns through the air.

Wednesday night’s award continued a long list of honors for Watson this year. He won the Davey O’Brien Award and the Manning Award as the top quarterback in he nation. He was third in the nation in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, the highest finish in history for a Clemson player. In two weeks he will receive the Archie Griffin Award from the Touchdown Club of Columbus, Ohio as the nation’s top player.

The Clemson signal caller was also named the consensus first-team All-American quarterback, another first for a Clemson player. He was the Most Valuable Player of the ACC, the MVP of the ACC Championship game and of the Orange Bowl victory over Oklahoma.