Ad Disclosure
Saban: ‘Deshaun Watson the best player in college football since Cam Newton’
Published:
Alabama head coach Nick Saban is apparently still having nightmares after what Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson did to his defense in last year’s national championship game. Had Saban not had the guts to call for a surprise onside kick in the game and Clemson not surrendered a very deadly big plays in the game, the Tigers would have certainly won the title in 2015.
While Clemson’s defense and special teams may have let them down, Watson did everything possible to ensure victory against the Tide – something Saban noted during his visit to ESPN for the SEC’s annual carwash event.
Against Alabama’s No. 3 nationally ranked defense (in scoring and total defense), Watson threw for 405 yards, four touchdowns and added 73 yards on the ground in the title game.
After certainly endlessly reviewing film from that game, Saban has come away with some incredibly high praise for Watson during his segment on ESPN’s College Football Live.
“That guy’s the most significantly dominant player we played against since Cam Newton in 2010. … That guy coming back for that team is going to make them a very, very competitive team in terms of being in the championship arena again,” Saban said live on ESPN.
In his only season at Auburn, Newton of course brought back the Tigers from a 24-point deficit in Tuscaloosa to win the 2010 Iron Bowl by a final score of 28-27. In that game, Newtown threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 39 yards and another score. He would ultimately lead Auburn to the national title that season.
Saban’s praise of Watson didn’t stop there however, as the Alabama coach had some words that were likely meant to continue to push his quarterbacks, currently in competition for the starting role, to improve before the season arrives.
“I don’t care who we start at quarterback,” Saban said. “He ain’t going to be that good.”
While Alabama may not have a Watson on the roster, they do have a player who simulated Watson on the scout team in anticipation for the title game in freshman Jalen Hurts. If Hurts can emerge this season, Alabama could add another dimension to its offense this season.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
