Does Clemson QB Deshaun Watson Really Have a Chance to Win 2015 Heisman?

Two months ago, Deshaun Watson was on every Heisman Trophy watch list in America, and with good reason. Clemson’s sophomore quarterback can hurt defenses in a multitude of ways, pilots one of the nation’s most potent offenses and flashed impressive skills while helping the Tigers to a 10-win 2014 season.

A sluggish start dropped him off those lists, but if you haven’t been paying attention, it’s time to start. Watson piled up more than 400 yards of total offense in No. 1 Clemson’s 23-13 win over Florida State last week and continued his Heisman push Saturday at Syracuse. Clemson held off a determined Orange team 37-27, and the Tigers notched their fifth consecutive season with at least 10 wins.

They wouldn’t have done it without Watson, who picked up his teammates on a day when they didn’t quite have everything together.

If Heisman voters are watching, his next trip to New York should be for the Heisman ceremony on Dec. 12. Watson has worked his way back into the Heisman Trophy race and is building a candidacy that could be good enough to bring home the bronze stiff-arm trophy.

Through the first five games, Watson had 11 touchdowns against five interceptions and had yet to throw for 300 yards in a game, posting uneven efforts in wins over Notre Dame and Louisville (a combined 283 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions).

But in the season’s second half, Watson has found his groove. He has three 300-yard passing games (including a 420-yard day against a good Boston College defense) and just missed a fourth, passing for 297 yards against Florida State. He also has 12 touchdowns against three interceptions.

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Watson is also making things happen with his legs. Saturday marked his second consecutive game with 100-plus yards rushing. He completed 34 of 47 passes for 360 yards and two touchdowns and added 105 yards and a touchdown on the ground; it was his second consecutive game with 400-plus yards of total offense.

And just like a week earlier against Florida State, Watson was cool under pressure. With Clemson clinging to a 34-27 lead and backed up at its own 15 midway through the fourth quarter, he relieved the pressure with a 39-yard run straight up the middle that could have gone for paydirt had he not bobbled the ball. Regardless, the drive ended with a game-clinching field goal.

Watson fits the profile of a Heisman winner. He’s the most valuable player on one of college football’s best teams, and he has performed best when it has mattered most. His position will also help. Dating back to 2000, 13 of the last 15 Heisman winners have been quarterbacks, with USC's Reggie Bush and Alabama's Mark Ingram the only exceptions. 

Watson is outperforming other Heisman winners too. For example, in 2006, Ohio State's Troy Smith threw for 2,532 yards with 30 touchdowns against six interceptions and rushed for 228 yards and a touchdown. Through 10 games, Watson has already passed Smith's rushing and passing totals. 

Watson told reporters earlier this week, including TigerNet.com's David Hood, that the Heisman chase "won't be a distraction":

"

I'm just going to continue to be myself and be a team player and keep doing what I'm doing. It's a great honor. There is still a lot of ball to play, and I still have to prove myself. We'll see what happens in December. I never really look at it. I don't ever go looking for it. Right now, it is what it is. I just have to keep doing what I'm doing and see what happens in December.

"

Last week, SI.com’s Zac Ellis placed Watson at the top of his Heisman Watch, ahead of Alabama tailback Derrick Henry and Stanford tailback Christian McCaffrey, who entered this week as the nation’s all-purpose yardage leader. And don’t discount LSU’s Leonard Fournette, who slipped from the top spot after a 34-yard effort against Alabama.

Henry was impressive again Saturday, rushing for 204 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-6 rout of Mississippi State.

Both he and Watson will have multiple showcases left. While both have winnable games next week (Alabama versus Charleston Southern and Clemson versus Wake Forest), both teams finish the regular season on the road against their rivals (Auburn and South Carolina, respectively) and have the SEC and ACC championship games, respectively.

It could be hard to argue against Henry, who has run powerfully and well in the nation’s deepest league, piling up 1,458 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns. But Watson has thrown for 2,593 yards with 23 touchdowns against eight interceptions and has added 598 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

There are a number of strong candidates, but Watson has proved with each passing week that he deserves to be among them. If he can keep Clemson unbeaten and excel in the process, there’s no reason he can’t tote home the Tigers’ first Heisman Trophy in mid-December.