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Clemson: Dabo Swinney expects Deshaun Watson to enter 2017 NFL Draft

By Patrick Schmidt

Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and head coach Dabo Swinney celebrate after defeating the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Clemson won 37-17. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and head coach Dabo Swinney celebrate after defeating the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Clemson won 37-17. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney is savoring what he thinks is the last spring practice for quarterback Deshaun Watson.

The Clemson Tigers won the ACC and played in the National Championship Game last year in part because of the efforts of All-American quarterback Deshaun Watson who was the third-place finisher in the Heisman Trophy.

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The rising junior is on the short list of favorites to win the trophy this year and could lead Clemson back to the College Football Playoff, but Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney isn’t expecting Watson to stick around beyond that.

“I really want to challenge the crowd and fans to show up,” he said, via ESPN. “It’s going to be the last time to see Deshaun Watson, most likely, in a spring game. Deshaun came in here with a plan. He’s going to graduate in three years. That’s what he’s doing.”

Swinney would obviously welcome Watson back with open arms if he wanted to return for his senior year, but he knows Watson has a career in the NFL and won’t stand in his way of that goal.

Watson projects to be the best quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft and, therefore, will be a candidate to be the first overall pick.

Last year’s Davey O’Brien Award winner completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 4,104 yards and 35 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. The dual-threat quarterback also added 1,105 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.

If the Cleveland Browns decide to pass on the chance to draft Carson Wentz with the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, they would most likely be doing so with the hope they could be in a position to take Watson high in next year’s draft.

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For Watson’s sake, let’s just hope he doesn’t go to a place like Cleveland where quarterbacks go to die. In the meantime, Swinney and Clemson fans should enjoy Watson for as long as they have him because he’ll be a tough one to replace.

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