It took a long time for me to put a smile on my face over the course of my lifetime, and my experience of what I've been through on and off the field.
— Deshaun Watson
Whenever you're falling or getting tackled, try to protect yourself. But that's part of the game; that's part of football.
I'm just going to do what I can do, not worry about taking hits. I'm not going to shy away from that... I'm going to try to protect myself and make sure I do my job.
My reads, operation with the offense, timing with the receivers, routes, sitting in the pocket, trusting my line - everything is always a work in progress.
It started with my mom; she always wanted me to get my degree and graduate.
One thing that translates from college to the NFL is winners, and, I think, being a quarterback, that's the biggest thing: being recognized, winning games.
I can control what I can control. I just focus on me, and that's it.
I love the work, love the grind. I love what I have to go through to get what I want.
I've played through a lot of injuries before, as a young kid through high school.
I've dealt with adversity before, had injuries before. I didn't let that slow me down. It just changed my attitude about the game.
It doesn't matter my size. It's more a mindset. That's what people don't understand. It's the size the media talks about, but they don't know my heart.
If a franchise wants me, they'll take me.
I watched Tim Tebow and how he played and how he carried himself and the good that he did for the game on and off the field. I knew that's what I wanted to do.
People have assumed that I have to run the ball before I can throw it most all of my career, all the way back before high school. It's a stereotype put on me for a long time because I'm African-American, and I'm a dual-threat quarterback.
You correct the mistakes, and you move on.
If I have the opportunity to go to the NFL, I'm going to take it.
Clemson was a special place, and I've enjoyed every single moment.
I'm going to give all my will and all my guts to try to get the ball in the end zone.
You just always have to protect yourself. Try not to take any unnecessary hits.
You try to learn as much as you can with each rep.
I just want to be a complete professional quarterback, and that's going to take time.
Health has always been my first priority. If it's something that is going to make it worse, or if I'm not cleared by the doctors, then, you know, I won't step on the field.
I never forget where I come from. It means everything.
I can't control other people, what their beliefs are.
I think about my mom and the things she went through, and things could always be a lot worse.
For me, I just try to do what's best for the team.
There's no timeline from ACLs. People give you five, six, seven, eight months to come back.
I just go out there and play.
I try to act as a man of character if no one is watching or if the world is watching.
No one can beat Momma. She made me the person I am today - the way I think and act and move and talk and speak. It's all because of her.
The one thing I learned early on as a football player is people have their opinions, and I can't change them. But I can show them what they're missing.
I'm human. I make mistakes.
When we get in the red zone, we have the mentality that we're trying to get points. We're not satisfied with three points. We're trying to get touchdowns each time we get in there.
I'm the best player in the country. That's how I think. That's how I feel.
There's only so much that you can control, especially when the game speed is super, super fast, and guys are flying at you, and you're trying to make a play and get rid of the ball.
Honestly, I just kind of play ball. I guess I'm pretty good in the state of Florida.
Each big play is always a confidence-booster.
At first, after my freshman year, it was kind of a joke, going into my sophomore year like, 'Hey, I wanna graduate in three years, two-and-a-half.' And we were just kind of playing with it, added some extra classes in, and then once I finished that following spring going into that next summer, it was just like, 'Hey, I can actually do it.'
I have some muscle on me where I can take those hits.
When I'm on the field, I'm locked in, focused on my job. I try to have a positive play and try to get points on the board.
I love all people, and that's what I focus on.
It's not overwhelming or shocking to play against the SEC, like most fans think.
We just got to capitalize in the red zone. Don't turn the ball over.
Coach OB is fun to play for. He's very tough on you. He wants you to be successful.
If they want me to run the ball, I'll run it.
I try to do the right things. I was always raised that if you do the right thing and obey the law, you won't have problems. I really believe that. But that's just me; that's what I've tried to do because that's how my mother raised me.
People think, 'Oh, he's a black quarterback, he must be dual-threat.' People throw around that word all the time. It's lazy.
God doesn't make mistakes.
I'm not Superman.
Clemson was the best three years of my life.
