***** From today: Carlos Watkins, Deshaun Watson, Ben Boulware, Jay Guillermo

[Cris_Ard]

Carlos Watkins, Deshaun Watson, Ben Boulware, Jay Guillermo:

Transcript release (unedited) from College Press Box ...

DESHAUN WATSON

No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: It's going great.

Talk about what it's like to be back in this position.

DESHAUN WATSON: Feels good to be able to be back. It's a blessing. It's an opportunity for us to be one of the top two teams in the country, and it's hard to do. It took a lot of hard work and dedication and team work, and we're back here.

You guys were able to take care of the Ohio State secondary. What do you think about this Alabama secondary?

DESHAUN WATSON: It's a very good team. It's overall defense, overall team and they're going to come prepared and ready to play. It's the national championship so it's a lot of good things that's going to happen, a lot of adversity that's going to hit and we're going to try to find ways to find holes in the defense and try to move the ball down the field and get points.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Just the hurt, just walking off the field and having the confetti rain down on us for the wrong reason, and that reason was because Alabama won and we lost the game. We just try to regroup, refocus and try to get back here and have it happen for the right reason.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Keeping it simple, having fun and I was prepared. That was really the only reason. No difference. Still a football, field is the same length, everything the same, just more people watching.

Have you given thought to for so many guys on this team, this is it?

DESHAUN WATSON: We try not to think about that. We try to focus on the task at hand and just focus on this game. All that stuff has a time and place for it and we will worry about all that once this game is over.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: We believe in each other. We are just going on out there and play football. It's no different than any other game. We just focus on the task at hand and make sure that we execute our game plan and worry about Clemson. We wasn't worry about what Alabama is doing.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Not at all. They're their own defense, it's Alabama, so I focus on what Alabama is doing. I don't try to compare them to anyone else. We know that they're a good team, a good defense, so we will just go out there and do what we do. We feel like we're a good team, too, so it's two good teams going head-to-head.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: You know, I don't really focus on that, because I focus on what we have to do on our side of the ball. They just do a good job of getting the turnovers and creating those into touchdowns and points. I just focus on what I gotta focus on and I don't really focus on what they have going on over there.

How much excitement did you get watching the Ohio State film not knowing you guys were able to dominate them and use this as a spring board into this game, so to speak?

DESHAUN WATSON: We just tried to focus on creating that momentum and carrying it over to this game. We don't focus on what we did against Ohio State because it's a whole different team, it's a whole different week. It's hard to get the same results. It's different than is going to happen through this game. We just try to focus on what we can do this week to get the same results and get the "W!"

Coach said last week practicing for the Ohio State game that was the best week of practice so far. Do you feel like this week has been just as good?

DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, I feel like this week has been very sharp, very good for all the players. Everyone has been focused in, getting a lot of rest, a lot of -- you know, everyone is healthy, no one is really banged up so this week has been good and we still have three more days to carry over this past week and finish up the final touches of the game plan and get everyone prepared and ready for Monday night.

What does this team have that maybe that team didn't have?

DESHAUN WATSON: We just have experience. We are just more focused on the task at hand this year. Last year was an eye-opener. We had never been there before, and it was new to all of us. The only person that has really been to a national championship is Coach Swinney and a couple of other coaches but as far as players none of us been to this stage so last year we just kinda -- it was new for us to see the "hype" of the game and how it really was but this year everyone is keeping it calm and simple and just preparing for the game, keeping it calm and focused.

Deshaun what does it mean to be invited to the Senior Bowl?

DESHAUN WATSON: It's special. It's an honor. Great opportunity for just me and my family. Just exciting to have this opportunity and, you know, just thank everyone from the Senior Bowl and the committee, to have the field invite me.

Are you going to play?

DESHAUN WATSON: I'm not sure yet. My focus is on a national championship, and we will figure that out afterwards.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I'm not sure how that works. I was just playing the game and Swinney gave me the invite and told me I was invited so that's all I remember.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, you know, we just kind of connected my junior year in high school. Every since then we became great friends. He's been my roommate since we got to Clemson and we have this relationship that we just best friends, brothers and whatever I need he got for me and whatever he needs I got for him. So we always try to make sure we are on task and doing the same thing and just making sure we making each other better.

Does that translate to the field?

DESHAUN WATSON: It do. We can relate to each other on game day. We're not afraid to tell each other if we're wrong and it just kinda spreads throughout the team this just this relationship and bond we have, not just me and Artavis, but the whole team, and I think that's very, very special. That's the difference between this year and last year.

The success of this program, what does it mean to get yourselves into the position of playing for a national championship.

DESHAUN WATSON: It's just special. It started a long time ago, you know, before I even thought about coming to Clemson. He's been here for 13, 14 years and he just kind of been building this brand and this whole program. It's been the coaching change and all the great people that came through here and just the way he treats everybody, it's special. Each year it's growing and growing and I'm just blessed enough to be part of it for the past three years and just kind of helping it grow.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I don't look at it that way. It just depends on what the game plan is. Whatever the defense is giving us. We just try to look at what the defense is giving us and whatever they feel like, you know, we should do in the game plan and then I'm up for the challenge. We just try to focus on that.

Deshaun, what has to go right for you guys to walk away with a national championship?

DESHAUN WATSON: Just be Clemson. Don't try to do too much. Everyone do their job and don't make it bigger than what it is.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Not at all, because I don't make the game plan, the offensive coordinators make the game plan. All that stuff y'all took it the wrong way. It was at ACC Media Days, and me and the guy from Bleacher Report -- I think it was Bleacher Report -- we had a conversation, and he asked about that and the question was very different from what the media saw. Then ESPN blew it up.

I can't remember really what the question was but I just said that, you know, just a dual threat gets overlooked for guys that can pass the ball, and that's all I really pretty much said.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I'm a quarterback, that's how I look at it. I guess if you want to say I'm a dual threat and I can run the ball, I can pass the ball, I don't really look at the label so much, I just try to be the best quarterback I can be.

In this day and age of football, seems like there's a lot to -- (No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: It's not a bad thing. That's they're opinion. My opinion is like I said before I just try to be the best quarterback I can be and help the team went. If you have to run I run the ball if I have to pass it I pass it. If I don't do neither and just get the ball to my skill guys and let them run the ball that's what I do but my job is to be the quarterback and all that label stuff I leave to the fans and the media.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I've watched it probably this week, maybe five times. I just kind of been going through the game and getting the feel of it and just how they play, but I didn't spend too much time figuring out what they did against us, because it's a whole new year. They have a difference defensive coordinator, a lot of different other skill guys, so I was just watching to get the feel of the speed of the game and, you know, just how they played us differently and try to assume what they are going to do this week.

Does it feel like you're taking a test watching that film?

DESHAUN WATSON: You could say that. It's a whole different year. It's a whole different year. Entirely. Last year was our first time playing against Alabama, so they know what we do and we kinda know what they do.

We just kinda trying to regroup and refocus and try to not go off of last year but try to have the feel of the game and what they kind of did and what they are going to try to do this year.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I mean, it's a good group. I feel like last year they were very good, too. This year they're the same group, very, very talented, very physical, and they do a lot of great things on defense. It's going to be a tough task for us and we just gotta go out there and play.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: A lot better from last year just because we have more depth, nor experience, you know, we've been at this stage before. We've been in a lot of big games and a lot of pressure moments. I feel like this year we have a lot more experience in general.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Focus on trying to get the win. I don't worry about all the stats and things like that. I just try to focus on, you know, getting the final outcome and focus on winning. All that stuff last year I did is good but at the end of the day you want the "W" and to be a national champion and I wasn't so all of that kind of goes out the window.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I didn't say that, y'all said that. I'm not going to put that curse on me. I just go out there and play and hopefully we can get the results that we want.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I don't know. I mean, over the past six, seven years they had the success doing what they do. I mean, it's nothing that they should do to change to try to have success. They're going to be who they are and that's Alabama. They've been successful at doing that. I don't see them changing. I see them doing what they doing and playing football. That's what got them here. But we will find out Monday night and see what they do.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Just the way their defense is playing. People try to take away the run game so we will pass the ball. Then when people try to take away the pass we will run the ball. So it depends on what the defense is doing and the situation of the game and whatever Coach Scott and Coach Elliott and Coach Swinney want to feel like the game plan should be that will be successful for that week.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I mean, I've passed for 4,000 yards last year, almost 4,000 yards this year, so that speaks for itself.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Not at all, because turnovers are going to happen, mistakes are going to happen. You just move on and live from it. The great ones throw interceptions, too, so things like that happen. If you breakdown the film, sometimes it's tipped balls, sometimes the receiver slips, like last week, sometimes the defense makes a good play.

You only can control so much. You just go out there and play football. You don't worry about making mistakes. You play free and have fun.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Of course! They're the champs. They're on the top of the peak, and they're the standard, so you just want to beat -- if you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best, and right now they are the best. They earned that right, earned their stripes, and for us to be the champs we gotta go take it.

Are you flattered that Coach Saban compared you to Cam Newton?

DESHAUN WATSON: That's a big compliment. Cam is a whole different animal, but I guess it's a privilege and it's an honor. I really appreciate and respect Nick Saban, so I thank him for that compliment.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, my journey has been special. It's been the best three years of my life. I've learned so much, I've grown so much not just as a player but as a person, just as a citizen, being in a community and helping others and inspire others across the world. Not just Clemson fans but people from Japan and Australia and people from around the world that come to Clemson, or people that I meet out in the public, just kind of saying that they look up to me and kind of the way I carry myself and treat others inspires them.

So it's been special over the past three years and being able to help this program grow and meet new people and create a family and an atmosphere that is very special for me and not just for my family but for the young ones too that's growing up.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Top everything off. This is something we have been waiting for 35 years and it's something I've always wanted, you know, just a national champion, and being able to call myself a champion on the football field is awesome.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: It brings another weapon to the offense. It's something they have to worry about and really respect. Mike is an animal. He's one of the best in the country to play the receiver position, so it's just great to have him over there, have him as another target, and not just to have him on the field but just to have his experience level and leadership, for all the young guys like Deon Cain and Overton and all those younger guys that's looking up to him.

There are plenty of fans that are just excited to be here. What do you think you guys have meant to the state of South Carolina?

DESHAUN WATSON: I'm not sure. It's just been great. Just to be able to impact their lives and they don't know it but they really impact my life, too. They inspire me to do great things and do it the right way and just be able to carry myself the right way and just inspire others.

It's a win-win situation for both of us, and I'm just blessed to have that support cast that I have around me, and I really feel and believe that Clemson is a special place. Their fans are -- it's hard to really explain. It's just a special family group.

Having been here last year, how does that impact this year?

DESHAUN WATSON: You kind of know what to expect. Last year was a whirlwind, so much going on. It was our first time, so we didn't really know what to expect. We were just going with the flow, and people telling us what to do and we were just doing it. We tried to balance everything out. This year we know what to expect and Swinney has a great plan for us to get a lot of rest and a lot of time, you know, for ourselves and just kind of relax our minds and also prepare at the same time. This year is a lot more balanced and more confident.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: It's special. We're here for a reason. Guy doesn't make mistakes and to have that chance and that second opportunity is great. It's a blessing to be here. We can't mess up and take this opportunity for granted. We have to take full advantage of it and go out there and just try to get the "Dub"!

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Of course. They're the champions. For us to be the champs we have to beat the champs.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Hasn't really hit me yet because I haven't made my decision yet, but it's been a fun ride, it's been special and I have enjoyed every single moment.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: It's going to be crazy, a lot of emotions, but I'm going to be locked into the moment and focus on my game plan and the task at hand.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: It was in the back of our minds, but we didn't focus on it too much, because we know it's a whole different year. We have to go re-earn it and take it one week at a time. But it was something that that pain and feeling walking off the field that you can't really just release. It's always going to be with you for the rest of your life, especially pulling up that close and losing to them in that way and that fashion. We just kind of grind it out, stay focused on the task at hand and hopefully we were going to be in this moment, and now we're here.

This is a chance to get it right.

DESHAUN WATSON: Of course. Yeah, this is a chance, an opportunity for us to flip that pain into some joy and be able to be happy about the results that we get.

What do you remember about your first game as a Tiger?

DESHAUN WATSON: I just remember, you know, getting off the buses, walking into the stadium and just being able to call myself a collegiate football player and just be where I wanted to be and walk into that stadium. Especially going on to the field for the first time it was crazy, you know? I remember the crowd noise and going out there trying not to mess up and I went down and scored on the first drive and that's all I remember because that's all -- I played until the very end but it was just kind of the jump start of my career and just the confidence level of what I can do at this level and be prepared for it.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: It means a lot, having the opportunity. It's very hard to set your chances in life and for us to be able to come back and have another chance at it against a very good team it's a blessing. It's a great opportunity for us, so we don't want to miss out on this opportunity and take it for granted. We want to go full throttle at it.

How different is it this year now that you've been here before?

DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, we are just kind of more relaxed and like I the one before that last year was an eye-opener, we didn't really know what to expect. It was our first time here, so much attention, lights, cameras and so many people. Our heads were everywhere. This year it's more relaxed and more calm and peaceful because we had the opportunity to know what to expect and know what this game is really about.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I guess just top it off. We've done so much over the past three years and ACC Conference Championships, bowl wins, road wins, home wins, so much we've done over the past three years, but this is pretty much the final thing we haven't done is beat be the national champion. It's a great opportunity for us to put that "W" especially for the seniors to cap it all off and be the champions.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I don't know. Pretty much the whole defense. They're a great group, they're here for a reason. They're the number one defense in the country for a reason. It's a complete group. They're very special. They play hard, know what they're doing, don't have a lot of mistakes and it's going to be a great task for us.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: That's each and every week. No matter who you are playing against, you know, being patient as a quarterback is the key, and trying to find out what they're going to do in the first couple series, just trying to find their hole and weaknesses and get the feel of the game.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: That's very big, just to set the tone and try to get on the board first and try to create that momentum that we really want and try to keep it on our side.

What do you see that you might be able to do?

DESHAUN WATSON: I don't know. I'm not going to say that in the media. (Chuckles.)

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Clemson is special. It's very elite. We are one of the best programs in the country and we can compete with anyone. Even before my time we've just been winning big games, big-time games and trying to carry it over and build and prepare for moments like this.

It won't be no shocker for us to go out there and play at this type of level, because we've done it before and we have a lot of experience.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: No, I don't really worry about all that stuff. Regardless of if I'm the underdog or if I'm not, I just go out there and play football because all that stuff is for the fans and the media, just to kind of bet on and compare teams but at the end of the day both teams gotta go out there and prepare and gotta go out there and play.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: You just gotta be patient. It comes down to doing the little things right. If you do the little things right and execute your game plan then you can have success, but if you mess up on the little things, Alabama is going to expose that.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I'm really not sure. I just go out there and play. I wasn't focused on what people have done in the past, previous years. I'm just going to focus on my task at hand and just go out there and play ball and focus on my team.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I'm not sure. I just kinda -- like I said before, I just go out there and play ball and whatever they want to do we try to find the holes. We have answers on this offense and we have weapons, also, so we gotta go out there and win our match-up and it's going to come down to that.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: That's a big difference because we didn't have them last year. To be able to have two more weapons on this offense and have the leadership of those guys and the talent level and just, you know, we can do a lot more different things than we did last year, so it's going to be great to have those two guys out there preparing and out there playing.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: It's going to be top-notch. Not just now but for five years from now. It's going to be better than what it is now. It's growing each and every year, and I can see, I can feel it, Coach Swinney can see it and feel it and the fans can, too, also.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: A lot, you know, just the respect level of this program, just been growing. When I committed as a 15 year old back in 2012. I knew that this program was going to be special. That was one of the reasons why I committed. I felt the energy, I bought into what Coach Swinney was saying and what he thought the future was going to bring to this program and I wanted to be a part of it.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I've seen the outside, we walked through it a little bit but it wasn't really done. I don't think it will be done until the end of Jan. But whenever I come back and have my time I will probably enjoy it. Cherish all the moments that are going to be a part of it.

What's the toughest part about preparing for this Alabama defense?

DESHAUN WATSON: They do so much good things on defense, so you try to find the weaknesses. When you look at a defense like this, there are really no weaknesses. You just gotta go out there and win your match-ups. So we've got to focus on what we've got to do to go out there and be successful.

How important is ball security in a game like this?

DESHAUN WATSON: Ball security regardless of who you're playing is going to be the key to the game. When you don't have ball security, that's when the game is closer and tougher for you to pull out the win, so ball security in this game is going to be tough.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: So much, just his maturity level. I think last year he was coming in, and he was highly recruited. The whole world was in his hands, because he was so successful as a young guy, as a freshman. He just got caught up at the wrong place at the wrong time, and it was a good learning lesson.

We all proud of him. We helped him out throughout the off-season and even throughout the season, and just to see him grow, not just as a football player but as a young man, it brings me joy.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Just told him to keep his head up and remember who you is. Your mom raised you the right way, and he knew that. Just to have his brothers and boys around him, just to kind of bring him up and not just throw him to the side has really helped him out.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: We watched it a little bit early on this week, but we refreshed and focused on this year. Whole different group. It's a new defensive coordinator, it's a whole different year. We tried to focus on this year and what we have planned and what we can do to take advantage of this year's team.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I just try not to focus on that. At the end of the day, I want to get the "W". So whatever I can do to get the "W" and get the win, that's all I'm focused on. I can top the numbers, I did last year, and still lose, still be a loser. So at the end of the day I just try to get the win. If I throw for 100 yards and for one touchdown and we win, I'm happy.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Could be. I feel like last year's defense they had was pretty good, too. My freshmen year here at Clemson our defense was real solid, last year's defense was real solid, even this year's defense is really solid. I don't know, Ohio State's defense is real good. I played a lot of good defenses. It's one of the best.

Have you found any hot wings? Are you envisioning your team winning?

DESHAUN WATSON: No, I haven't found any hot wings yet, just because we got in last night, but I probably will tonight, and, of course, I envision us walking off the field with a "W" and the confetti coming down on us for the right reasons and just having success. That's what you gotta do. You gotta picture it and envision it out before you walk on the field to have success.

Talk about the comments and the conversations you've had with this team about getting back to this game.

DESHAUN WATSON: Just the conversation has been let's focus on the task at hand and take care of the little things. If we do that everything else is going to take care of itself and we will end up back in Tampa. That's what we did before, especially after the Pittsburgh game and hey, we're here back in Tampa and we've got to continue to do that to follow up.

You've seen a lot of great defenses in your career, you played these guys last year in the National Championship game. Is there a more complex defensive group than you've seen from this team? Is this the most difficult challenge for you personally?

DESHAUN WATSON: I'm not sure because I haven't played against them yet. We will figure that out Monday night. Like I told the media before, my defense my freshman year here at Clemson was very complex, and what Coach V do each and every day is very confusing, too, so it won't be any kind of shocker to us when we get out there Monday, we just gotta get out there and play ball.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Pretty much every night, just because this is the standard of college football. Everyone wants to be in the national championship. Everybody can see it, everybody can feel it. Walking off that field and not having the confetti raining down on you for the right reasons is tough, and it's a lot of pain. Especially to get back here for the second time and to have that opportunity, you want to finish that way.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I think so. Like you said, we accomplished so much, so many bowl games, conference championships, road wins, home wins. This is the only thing we don't have. We've been waiting 35 years for it so it's another opportunity for us to bring it home.

The goal is to limit turnovers. What Alabama does being able to score off of interceptions, does that raise the emphasis?

DESHAUN WATSON: No, because that goes into each and every game. You've been around us. Whenever we have turnovers, the game is a lot tougher, but whenever we control the ball and protect the ball, the game is a lot easier for us. It's going to start up there. We don't really go into a game focusing on what they doin' on defense. We going to focus on protecting the ball and having points of pressure whenever we touch it.

Would you say they're more aggressive than other defenses in terms of trying to create turnovers?

DESHAUN WATSON: I'm guessing, but we've played a lot of teams, especially the last two games, Virginia Tech was great at creating turnovers, Ohio State was, and we just go out there and play ball and they do a great job of creating those turn overs, though.

Coming back to this back-to-back years, what does it mean, and talk about Coach Swinney and playing for him.

DESHAUN WATSON: It's special. The people he brings to the program, to this university, the supporting cast that he has around him and the way he thinks. He always thinking positive and thinking the right way. It just draws attention and love and support to this program. Just the culture he created here has been special.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Of course! Even before I got here I knew that the program was growing, and I just wanted to be a part of it. I'm just one of those little pieces to the puzzle that's creating this program and it's a lot of other people doing the same thing. Maybe five, ten years from now this program is going to be better than it is now.

What would a national championship mean for this program?

DESHAUN WATSON: Spark it up? Something we have been waiting for for 35 years and to have all the alumni, former players and fans just be excited about it. Once we get one national championship we can get another one and kind of continue to trend so someone is going to do it and hopefully we can do it this year.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Media is doing good, a lot of good questions, so it's going good. It's all good.

Do you have anything special you do before the game?

DESHAUN WATSON: Same old. Sour gummy worms, Gatorade, talk to my mom and music. That's pretty much it.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I don't know. Last year they were very good, this year they're very good, and only difference I see is it's a whole -- I think they have seven or eight different starters on defense, but they have the same results. It's going to be a tough challenge for us and we're prepared for it.

(Question about being in the red zone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I just cut it loose. I don't play scared, I don't play with fear. I just go out there, have fun, cut it loose. Whenever you play conservative, that's when you kind of play slow, so I go out there and play fast and just play football.

Do you think about last year's result very much?

DESHAUN WATSON: Of course, that's something we think about all the time. Like I said before, we came so close to having a national championship, but we came up short, and they won. We want to flip the strip and try to be the winners this year.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Of course! They are the champions, so for us to be the champs, we gotta go beat the champs.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, you could say that. The Pittsburgh game was kind of a reality check for us. For us to be able to turn the strip and make sure that we are focusing on the little things and not getting complacent and every since then we had a different mind-set of each and every week is a championship game, and we have to approach it each and every week that way.

If you win Monday night no one is going to accuse you of being -- you're going to be No. 1. What will that mean?

DESHAUN WATSON: It will be great. We understand that as a program but I guess the outside don't understand that and until we do that and beat the champs, then it's going to be the same result, same story. It will be nice to finish out the deal this week and just say we done it.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I don't know, that's a good question. We understand what we're about and what we do and all the results that we've gotten over the past four or five years, and we just kind of focus on what we do and we let the outside people talk what they want to talk about.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: As far as last year's game?

Yeah.

DESHAUN WATSON: I watched it, I think it was Sunday last week when we got back from Arizona. I just kind of got the flow of the game and how they played against us and that was pretty much it. Nothing too much.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, whenever we got back from Arizona.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: No. I wasn't -- why would you focus on or dwelling on a loss? You try to move on from it.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, it's a whole different team, whole different year. A lot more experience, a lot more young guys contributing to the team and a lot more new people having to play a different role.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I mean, you have to pick your poison. I mean, if you want to double cover Mike, then you have to worry about Jordan Leggett, you have to worry about Hunter Renfrow, Artavis Scott, Wayne Gallman in the backfield. We can bring in Ray-Ray, Deon, so it's just a lot more than just Mike Reynolds.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: He did that on purpose. He came out the route slow on purpose so he can do that. He do it in practice, too. Mike he just -- like I said before, he's a different animal and he's a timely player and he kinda came out the route a little slow so he can just -- I don't know, Mike is -- if you really know Mike you will just laugh at it.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: He's going to kill it. He's going to take it to another level, he's going to learn from a lot of veterans and coaches that have been there, done that, and another game. Mike is going to be a superstar in the NFL.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: About the game? I mean, you just feel the emotions that you lost. That's all you feel, really, pretty much.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: No, we just cutout clips that kinda -- different plays throughout the game that could have affected or impacted the game and we felt like plays that we made all year that in that game we definite really make. It was the little things, taking care of that. So you focused on that and that's what he wanted to preach on is taking care of the little things and if we do that everything else will take care of itself.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I guess so, if you want to say.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: No, I don't expect it. I feel like my offensive line is going to do their task and I don't want it to happen so I'm not going to expect it.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I mean, I guess. I'm not sure. That defense last year was very good, too. They had maybe six, seven guys off that defense that got drafted so I think that was a pretty good defense, too.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Right, so that defense is very, very good. Like I said before, six or seven of those guys are in the NFL right now so that was a really, really good defense.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Of course. Because he had to earn his stripes. He had to earn his way up. It wasn't given to him. Everything that he accomplished in life and in his career, he's earned it. He never really had that -- people having that respect for him, so he had to earn that respect and he's done a good job of focusing on his tasks and what he has to do and not what people are saying about him.

That's why I love him. He can relate to all the players on the team, and he does a great job of that. That's what he tells everyone he's recruiting: I want to be a coach that relates to you off the field not just on the field. Being able to have that is powerful.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Well, I don't want to say it was on purpose but he could have come out of his break a little faster. Because if you watch it and see Coach Swinney, he's like, "Mike, get out your break," he's kinda yelling at Mike, because he kinda knew it, too. But Mike, he -- you just throw it his way, he's going to come down and catch it.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Right, right.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: We don't focus on that, we don't go into a game intimidated by no one. We're a good team, too, so I'm not sure where you're getting that with the Alabama defense because you're asking a lot of questions on them. We're not intimidated about what they're doing on defense and what they have.

We understand that they're a very good team, very good defense and they're very prepared, but that's not going to phase us. We go into a game thinking we're going to be successful against anyone.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: They're a good defense, number one in the country for a reason.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: No, it's the same mentality. Try to be the best and create turnovers and stop the offense.

Talking to Coach Scott about his little one. He said his little one likes to play with you and you guys have fun. Can you talk about that?

DESHAUN WATSON: She is a pretty little girl and she is always kind of with the receivers and the skill guys, she is always around us so she is always playing and smiling and just having fun. It's just good to see that joy that she has, to be around her and her dad and her mom and being around the whole team.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Just a lot of different ones after practice, just running around having fun and every time I walk on the bus, his son, A.J. always give me a sour gummy worms so that's the biggest memory I have.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, 4. 4 is one of the numbers they know.

Some of them traveled all the way to come here. What does that mean to you?

DESHAUN WATSON: That's great to have that fan support and supporting cast around us is just bringing the joy and the energy for us. It's very, very powerful. It's a blessing to be able to have that around you especially in a program like this.

Did you want to say anything to them?

DESHAUN WATSON: I love the Clemson family. I thank them for all the support and all the great memories and we got one more to finish.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: He's very special, he's grown as a player, as a man, he's mature. Route running, blocking, overall the game, he took it to another level. Whatever he told me after the game that he was coming back, it kind of brought a smile to my face because -- not just because I can have another weapon but because of the friendship we can create and the brotherhood and how we can learn from one another. He's going to be -- he's going to finish strong here and then he's going to go to the NFL and impact that team.

Talk about the feeling last year of walking off the field at the end of the game and coming up a little bit short.

DESHAUN WATSON: It's tough. Walking off the field for the wrong reasons, not getting out and finishing the deal. We worked so hard for it and, you know, you just kinda get to the end and not finish it, it's tough.

Of course it's in the back of our minds but we gotta focus on this year and it's a whole new year, whole new ball game.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I don't know. I guess they just have the players that's out there, just ball hawks, trying to find ways to get the ball. I can't speak on that too much, because I haven't watched too much of them over the course of the season. I just watched them this week. It's a good team. They create turnovers and find ways to get points.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I guess so. Guys that have the knack for the ball and have that "it" factor. I figure that they have a lot of guys that have that "it" and have the knack for the ball.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Just be Deshaun Watson, be the quarterback and the leader of the team and get the ball to the skill guys. Don't do anything too much or out of hand, just focus on that.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Not at all. Only thing that really affected us earlier this year was we wasn't really catching the balls or having the production that we wanted. A lot of dropped balls and a lot of missed throws by me, a lot of miscommunication. So the expectations had a factor on what we was doing earlier this year. Once we started catching balls and I started making the throws I needed to make, that's when everything started taking care of itself.

Why do you think that was happening early on?

DESHAUN WATSON: It just happened that way. Better to happen at the beginning of the year. If you look across the country a lot of teams started off fast and ended slow. That's just the type of football that kind of happened this year and it's very hard to have success throughout the whole year. For us it started off bad early on, and we picked it up at the end.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, the chemistry with Artavis has been special. We have been best buds since juniors in high school, going through the recruit process together and since day one became great friends, so when we came to Clemson we wanted to be roommates, and that's what we did. We have just been like this since then, so it's been great.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I still have the same mentality, go out there and produce for my team.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, I mean, I don't see anything changing. It's a good team. They're there for a reason.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: He wanted to change and he wanted to help not just his teammates and his friends but he wanted to help himself and he wanted to grow as a person and as a player and that's what he did.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I have a little bit. So much has been going on so quickly but I'm going to have some downtime to think about that.

What are your thoughts on this year?

DESHAUN WATSON: It's been special, it's just been great overall, and I'm blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of something special.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: The national championship.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: They're the champions and for us to be the champions, we gotta beat the champions, and we just wanted to -- we walked off the field last year feeling like we lost the game ourselves. We beat Clemson, we didn't lose to Alabama. We beat Clemson. So we just gotta go out there and play our ball.

What did you do last year that you want to do differently this year?

DESHAUN WATSON: Finish the deal, get the "W" and take care of the little things.

I asked your offensive lineman after you make a mistake, how does your demeanor change, and he said it doesn't. What do you do in your mind when you do make a mistake to go out there and correct things?

DESHAUN WATSON: I just snap and clear. Think about the next play and the next task I have at hand. I can't focus on the mistakes that I made, because that's going to drag throughout the course of the game and impact not just me but my teammates, too.

How would you describe yourself as a leader?

DESHAUN WATSON: I'm a laid back, quiet guy, but when I need to speak, I speak, and the guys listen up. Just to have that demeanor and to have that respect throughout my teammates is great and special. We all have a great relationship.

Dabo Swinney's energy is known throughout college football. Why is he such a special coach? (No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I don't know, I couldn't speak on that part, but having a coach like Coach Swinney and his personality and the way he carries himself is just fun. He brings so much joy to practice and to the meeting rooms and everything we do. This program is special to have a coach like him.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: It's going to be won in the trenches. Our O line versus their D line, and our D line versus their O line, and it's going to start up there. And whoever wins in the trenches is going to win the game. Everyone is going to have to take care of their match-up and it's going to start up there.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Probably the Florida State game, being able to go down there and win. We haven't done it in years and especially on a prime time stage. Going there, it's tough to win so that was probably the biggest one.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: No, we feel the energy, we feel comfortable down here. We have a lot of Florida guys, especially a lot of Tampa guys on the team so it's good for those guys to be able to come home and play in a game.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Yes, sir, I appreciate it. Thank you.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Thank you. Yes, sir. Appreciate it. Thank you.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: Right.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I do not. Ask Swinney. He brought it up in a meeting and that's what we've been saying all year.

He got it from the Cubs. It was the Cubs manager, Joe Maddon who used it this season. They won the World Series. (No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I knew he mentioned something about going up to the Cubs but I didn't know it came from the Cubs but, hey, that's a pretty good slogan to be able to take over and hopefully we get the same results the Cubs did and be champions.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I was interested in the World Series and especially when it came down -- especially when they were down 3-1 and to be able to come back, it was impactful and powerful.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: I think so. He especially can be as good as he wants to be. Being able to have the talent and support cast he has around him, I think he's going to be very special.

(No microphone.)

DESHAUN WATSON: It's been special, it's been fun and we have just been enjoying it and hopefully we can get the one goal that we haven't achieved yet and that's a national championship.



CARLOS WATKINS

What's it mean to be back here again?

CARLOS WATKINS: It's truly a blessing to get back here. To get this opportunity again, I mean it's unbelievable, man. Guys worked hard. We knew we had a chance to get back, but it's truly a blessing.

The performance you guys put up against Ohio State shut them down, can you talk about that?

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. I mean I didn't see it coming, you know. Ohio State, can't take nothing away from them. They're a great team, a very talented offense. But the guys, we really locked in on defense, you know, really focused in. Ben did a great job of handling everybody, the linebackers and the secondary, making sure they was getting extra film. But yeah, guys just focused in and it showed.

What makes this defense stand out here?

CARLOS WATKINS: I mean we always find a way to have a chip on our shoulder, you know. I feel like we don't get the respect that we deserve. But you gotta earn that. But we always seem to find a way to have a chip on our shoulder.

The Alabama has always been the power game and everything else.

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah, it starts with us up front. They present a great challenge. Always been a physical team, always had a great O Line and been able to run the ball. So our job as the D line, if we stop the run, it makes things harder on offense.

What is it you guys have to do?

CARLOS WATKINS: Just continue to do what we're doing, just being aggressive. Coach Swinney going to put us in the right play call, even though we just gotta trust and believe what he calls and just 110 percent effort, just try and be dominant up front.

Having been here before, knowing all the stuff you gotta deal with, how big a help is that?

CARLOS WATKINS: It was good. Last year was a great experience for us. So I mean we really kind of knew what to expect coming into this game. Last year was a big advantage.

How bad do you guys want this, especially after last year?

CARLOS WATKINS: This is big, you know. It's been a while. I mean it's not only for this team, but community and fans as well. I know they've been dying to have one, and we definitely want one since we were so close last year. These opportunities are rare. So I mean this is something that you dream about as a little kid, man. But I definitely want this big time.

I know you guys were talking about (indiscernible).

CARLOS WATKINS: We just do what we do, play Clemson football. We know that Bama is a great team. They earned that respect to be the elite program. So we're trying to get on that level, trying to be that elite program that everybody knows about. But just gotta play consistent football, continue to do what we're doing.

Talk about last week, you dominated Ohio State.

CARLOS WATKINS: We're going to carry the momentum from last game. We just can't think the last game is definitely not going to determine the next game. We just need to continue doing what we've been doing up front, just being disruptive and trying to create the line of scrimmage.

Do you expect any changes from them with the change in their offensive coordinator?

CARLOS WATKINS: I don't think too much because they got a freshman quarterback. I don't think they can just change up all the tendencies and all that. He's done got adjusted to the offense, so I don't think they can hit us with anything crazy.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. I mean we knew last year once we walked on the field we had to get back. We had to get back. But I mean we knew Bama is a contender every year. We knew it was a good chance they was going to be back, but it really didn't matter who we play. But I like the rematch. I like the rematch.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. Ohio State they continued their style of things. The run game. They have a lot of great runners in the back field, Alabama does. So it's our job, as defense, we can slow down a run, it makes it a lot easier because Alabama is definitely a run team. They make a lot of plays off the run. So if we're able to stop the run, it'll make it a lot easier for us.

You guys just shut out Ohio State. (Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: Always. That's what gives us our edge. We always try and find something to motivate us. But the game last year defense did not play well at all. We had a lot of busts, made a lot of big plays. So this year guys I think there's a lot more focused in, ready to play.

Been a long journey since last year when you were walking off that field. How gratifying is it just to have the opportunity to get another shot?

CARLOS WATKINS: It's rare that you get to go back-to-back years. I just been soaking up this moment just thanking God, because moments like this don't happen. So this time we definitely need to seize the moment.

How would you rate the last game?

CARLOS WATKINS: It's up there. Ohio State is a great team, has a lot of great talent, and if you would have told me we would have went in there and had them at zero points, I don't think I would have believed you. It's just guys were so locked in and focused.

Knowing how many points their defense has put up this year, is there any kind of expectation? How much would you guys love to get in the end zone?

CARLOS WATKINS: Oh, yeah. We definitely would love to get in the end zone. It's our job to create turnovers. So when we get the turn over, we just gotta make a play. They're very good at returning interceptions. So hopefully our guys on secondary or whoever catches it can return it back.

Sark is calling the plays now for Alabama. Are you prepared for somebody else to be the play calling knowing that there's a new offensive coordinator in there now?

CARLOS WATKINS: I don't really think so. He's a freshman quarterback. I don't really think they're going to change up too much. That would be a lot of pressure on him. But I think they're going to probably keep it the same, same play calling. They're really a run team. Quarterback is in the run game heavy. So I don't think anything really is going to change as far as that.

How would you have to adjust if you had a different coordinator coming in to prepare for a National Championship game? What kind of challenge would that pose?

CARLOS WATKINS: It definitely would be a challenge, you know. He's the best defensive coordinator in the game right now. But I guess I would treat that like kind of adversity almost. I couldn't tell you how we would adjust without coach V. But I know Alabama, their offensive coordinator is gone, so I'm pretty sure they're making adjustments.

Were you pretty surprised at all that you shut out Ohio State.

CARLOS WATKINS: I was. I mean if you told me we were going to hold them to zero points, I wouldn't have believed you. I at least thought they would have got a field goal. But our guys were just zoomed in, ready to play. They just gave everything they had.

So with that being said, what would be the expectations against Alabama? Are you going to try and shut them out?

CARLOS WATKINS: The goal is not to let nobody get points. So if it just turns out that way, it turns out that way. I know it's our job as a defense to hold them from scoring. So if we play like we're playing, we can do it.

Are coaches getting tired of Alabama?

CARLOS WATKINS: I don't know.

Are you?

CARLOS WATKINS: I don't really get tired of it, you know. That's the program. That's what they do. Clemson is trying to get to that point, you know. Hopefully one day somebody will get tired of us winning. But Alabama, right, people are going to hate because they win, but I respect them because of that.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: Who, Clemson? I definitely believe so. I've already heard somebody in the hotel, they're from Alabama, but they're just rooting against them. I think they just want to see Alabama lose.

In what ways do you think this game this year is going to be different than last year? Do you think we'll see the same amount of points being put up?

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah, last year I think it was a total like 85 points scored between both teams. That's a lot of points in a National Championship game. I don't think it'll be that close to points being scored. I know Alabama has a great defense. But we made a lot of mistakes last year on defense. Gave up a lot of big plays, but I don't think it'll be like that this year.

When you see your quarterback in practice. Is there any comparison you can make between the he and Jalen, similarities, differences?

CARLOS WATKINS: I know Jalen, just like Deshaun, he's real good on his feet. Really can't compare the two. They're two different types of players. But both of them are really good on their feet.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: The experience itself was a great experience. It's a National Championship game, but you don't need to put that much pressure on yourself. It's a football game. That's how you gotta look at it. I understand the prestige of the game but at the end of the day it's football, and we don't need to add any more pressure to us at all. Just need to go out there and play Clemson football.

Why do you guys want to go up against Alabama?

CARLOS WATKINS: The best. You know, they're the best. You know, they've earned that right to be called the best team in college football. So in order to be the best, you gotta beat the best.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: Probably just walking off the field. I was so hurt last year, just walking off the field, seeing the confetti come down on me and the team and we ain't holding up the trophy. It was tough. That's probably one of the things I remember from last year.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: Last year, I don't want to say -- but last year, I think guys really weren't as focused in as this team is now. I mean last year we had guys, you know, who I don't think -- I'm not going to call anybody out. But they started looking ahead, you know, trying to get ready for the NFL process and all. But this year, man, it's only one goal and that's to win the National Championship. And we're not worrying about any of that until the game is over. So I think guys are really a lot more focused in.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: I guess just the experience with last year, being so close, like three or four plays away from winning it all. I'd just say last year's experience. Plus we didn't have like Mike Williams and Deon Cain last year. We didn't have all our weapons on offense.

Jalen Hurts looks pretty good. How are you going to deal with him?

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah, Jalen Hurts, he's a great player, got great poise. He don't panic in the pocket. So that's what I really like about him. He's really fast is what a lot of people don't know about him. He really have some wheels. So that's what really makes him a threat.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: I knew it was headed in the right direction. My guy like Stefan Anthony, the guys that came in the year before me clearly turned the program around. Clemson won like ten games in 2011 season before I came in. But I just knew it was headed in the right direction and Coach Swinney had a great coaching staff behind him and I just knew where they were heading.

Your position is one that really shows the evolution on the program. How different is the competition from when you started to now?

CARLOS WATKINS: It's the same. When I first got in, we had Grady Jarrett, DeShawn Williams, guys who really work hard, just nasty guys up front. Really set the tone for me. I'm trying to do that for Dexter and Nyles, Jabril, Albert, all them guys. But it's still the same way.

The new facility, kind of is a trophy of what you guys have accomplished. Have you walked through it, do you have a favorite part of it?

CARLOS WATKINS: It ain't quite finished yet, but it's going to be amazing though. I hate that I ain't gonna really get to have my experience in there, but it's really going to be a great place, really has everything you want. Like I said, I really hate I'm going to miss that.

Have you let this set in that this is your last ride here at Clemson?

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah, I've sat down and thought about it, because I really try to cherish this moment with all my boys because I know I won't get this opportunity again. I try to tell them guys that, you know, things like this don't happen too often. So I try to get them to soak in the moment. But I try not to think about it too much because I'll get emotional. But just really ready to play and let them boys go out there and play.

Have you had a chance to sit back and think about the journey?

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. I do all the time, you know. I just thank God. I just be riding in the car, just sitting down, you know, and I just think about it. I wouldn't be here without Him, you know, so but I definitely reflect on it. It just motivates me more, just letting me know where I came from, and I got a story to tell, because the car wreck, you know, I really suffered a lot from that. But it's just truly a blessing to be in the position I am now.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah, they did have to cut me out of the car. It was the telephone pole that had me trapped in. So they had to cut the pole up and then they pulled me out through the trunk of the car, through the back.

How much of coming back was mental versus physical? Obviously there was some physical things you had to go through. How much of it was the mental side of it?

CARLOS WATKINS: The mental side didn't really play an effect until I actually got back on the field again. I really had to regain my strength and all, but when I stepped back on the field, I just wasn't myself again. But I think that was the toughest part, you know. I was like, am I going to be able to get back to where I was? You know, I was getting playing time at the time, a good bit of playing time, and when I got back out there, I just wasn't the same, and I had to tell myself like it's going to take some time to heal from this. So I didn't want to discourage myself, but my teammates did a great job of encouraging me, just keeping me motivated, as well as the coaches.

Being a small-town guy, what would it mean to bring a National Championship back home?

CARLOS WATKINS: It'll be huge, man. I think, man, the fans, they really deserve it. It's been a while. I mean not only the fans, but us guys, we really worked hard for this moment. But it would be huge just for Clemson, you know. The fans, they really show their love and support. They really genuinely care about their players. It would be huge.

How big is that going up against Taj in practice? Preparing you guys for last weekend and this weekend?

CARLOS WATKINS: Oh, we've had a great look. Taj, he definitely has a lot more speed than Coach Venables does. So he has to give us a better run look. Taj is physical, too, so he actually run up in the holes and is physical. You know he can throw the football. So I think Taj really did a great job this week in preparing us.

Did you feel I guess more prepared when you went up against Barrett all week after facing him all week in practice?

CARLOS WATKINS: I did. Kind of the same players almost, you know. We definitely got a great feel for it in practice.

What about Jalen Hurts? What makes him special? How can you stop him from doing what he's done all year?

CARLOS WATKINS: We gotta keep him in the pocket. He's good on his feet. He's got great poise. A lot of people don't really pay any attention to that. I mean he don't panic in the pocket. That's what makes him the great player he is.

What about Scarbrough, those runs that he had last week? Do you take notice of that?

CARLOS WATKINS: You definitely gotta take notice in that. That guy's a beast. We're just going to have to wrap up, man, play physical. Talented backs like that you gotta wrap them up. They break tackles easily and then he's that big and can move that well, so really gotta get them down.

Seems like this Alabama offense is not just one guy, three different backs, plus the quarterback and the receivers. How do you handle all these weapons that are everywhere and you don't know where it's going to come from?

CARLOS WATKINS: It's kind of like Ohio State almost. They had weapons all over the field, you know. That's why Coach V is who he is. I don't really see all that's going on, but I know he's going to put us in the right call when he sees the formation.

Last year a lot of their guys came off of what he said were self inflicted mistakes. Does that give you confidence that now we've corrected our mistakes, we like where we are?

CARLOS WATKINS: Almost definitely. Yeah. Ben is exactly right. It's like three or four plays that we hurt ourselves last year that gave the game away. But this year this team is a lot more focused. Last year we had a couple of guys that was highly NFL prospects that kind of got unfocused. But this year, man, we know how valuable this opportunity is, and I think we don't want to take that for granted. This is rare, man. We got an opportunity of a lifetime.

What was your biggest take away from last year that you can look back on and think about this year?

CARLOS WATKINS: I think just the experience of the game itself, which is big. Guys, we know what it takes. We know what we can do. Going against Alabama last year, too, we know what they do. So I mean we really should know what it takes now to win.

You mentioned seeing Alabama, seeing Scarbrough do well against Washington. Really, for the rest of that game he did not play very well on offense. I'm sure you noticed that as well. What made Washington so effective?

CARLOS WATKINS: It really was physical up front. Watching film, the guys, I know they let Scarbrough break out that one little run. He had two good little runs, but the guys from Washington they played very physical up front. I think their defensive line did a pretty good job. But they had another offensive touchdown. You know, Alabama, they're good at that. They don't have to have the offense to put points on the board. They can win in different ways. That's what makes them Alabama.

(Inaudible)?

CARLOS WATKINS: It's been fine. But he's been giving us a great look. He's got good speed. I think he might have tore his hamstring. But yeah, he gave us a great look. It was fun running around, chasing him around.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: I ain't gonna say he's fast as Jalen, but --

Not after 28 plays.

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. Definitely not. But he moves well, though, poise in the pocket. We try to emphasize standing in our rush lanes, not giving Jalen a lot of room to run. To Taj, he really expose us in that area in practice. When the rush lanes became available, well, when we got out of our rush lane, he would expose us to show us what possibly could happen if Jalen was to break out and run.

(Inaudible)?

CARLOS WATKINS: Oh, most definitely. That's what we wanted to do with J. T. We really just wanted to keep him in the pocket, don't let him make a lot of big plays with his feet.

(Inaudible)?

CARLOS WATKINS: Not really. They've been doing it all year, so -- and they've been winning. So I really don't see why they would want to change anything. It's a freshman quarterback. I don't think they will try to come up with a new scheme or anything like right away. I'm pretty sure Jalen is comfortable with the offense they have now. So I don't think they'll change up anything.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: Oh, most definitely. We were just excited. Like last year, you know, we were undefeated. You get to the National Championship, you know, when nobody on the team had any experience except for like the coaches. No player had any experience with that. So we was just enjoying the moment, like not really -- I ain't gonna say we weren't focusing on the game. But I think we were enjoying ourselves a little too much.

The celebration in the Orange Bowl last year, the Fiesta Bowl this year, do you think it was similar?

CARLOS WATKINS: I think it was similar. Well, last year probably celebrated a lot more. But this year, man, I mean I think we were just ready to get to the National Championship. Once we got the win, everybody was excited. We were just happy to get back.

Is there a feeling of revenge in the locker room for this matchup?

CARLOS WATKINS: I don't necessarily call it revenge, but you could say redemption almost. They got us last year, but the rematch.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: It was a sick feeling, you know. We was riding high last year, undefeated, you know. We was riding high. We fell all the way to the bottom, you know. But I feel like that was a great experience for us, just to let us -- you know, we got a taste of it. It might have been a bad taste. But we got a taste a little bit of a National Championship. So we know what it takes now.

Did you focus on how good of a season you had after that game?

CARLOS WATKINS: I don't want to say it does, but that was the goal. That would have been the ultimate goal to go undefeated and then win the game. But you go undefeated all through the year and then you lose the last game, you know you it really don't sit right with you because you're not used to it. We had become like used to winning at that time. So that's why it didn't sit right with us.

Didn't face the real Alabama defense. Do you guys feel the same way?

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. I feel the same way, we didn't show our same defense, you know. We gave up a lot of big plays. 88 was wide open half the game. So we definitely didn't play our best performance as well.

Is it kind of gratifying to have Alabama again, to give you a second chance?

CARLOS WATKINS: That's what I say, in order to be the best, you gotta beat the best. So that's how I look at it. Alabama has earned that right to be called the best. They beat us last year. So like I said, in order to be the best, you gotta beat the best.

Were you saying earlier that containment is a big deal with Jalen.

CARLOS WATKINS: Oh, yeah. Definitely. He got great wheels. So it's best that we just keep him in the pocket and don't let him run and make plays with his feet.

It looked like Washington kind of got to him a little bit, bringing pressures. Is that something, things you can do against a freshman maybe?

CARLOS WATKINS: Oh, yeah. I mean you definitely want to put pressure on him. Our job as the D line men is get to the quarterback, make him throw uncomfortable in the pocket.

I know it wouldn't matter who you play ultimately. It happens to be Alabama. And you were so close last year. What does that mean?

CARLOS WATKINS: It's just really a blessing. Like you said, it really wouldn't matter who we play, but Alabama, you know, this is history right here. Both teams go back-to-back years. So this is almost like a legacy, you know. Both teams just getting back. So hopefully we're able to pull this one out.

Is that one and the fact that last year you didn't know. Now you know you were so close last year. How different does it feel?

CARLOS WATKINS: Just that we got guys with a lot of experience this year. Last year that was our first year. A lot of guys had no experience with it. But this year, you know, we got leaders who had experience last year, and so we know what to say to the young guys and let them know not to take this opportunity for granted.

Second game of the season, what do you remember about that game?

CARLOS WATKINS: I think we got like booed that game. We definitely wasn't playing good, playing Clemson football at the time. I mean we still won the game. A lot of people had a lot of high expectations for us, coming back out with the season we had pretty much having the same team. But I think we were playing more for the fans than us at that time. I know Deshaun, you know, he said that he was trying to make other people happy, but when the focus is on the team, I think things really turned around, you know. We started playing for each other. So things changed.

What is it that made that team such a tough challenge going into the second game of the season?

CARLOS WATKINS: I mean Coach Swinney said it. Our motto this year is to embrace the target. We were going to get everybody best shot. And I know Troy. They really probably worked hard that week, probably had it down as their ultimate goal to beat Clemson. And they came out there and they fought hard. I can't take nothing away from Troy. I think they only ended up losing one game. A lot of people they sleep on Troy, but Troy was a pretty good team. But I think that game right there woke us up though.

Other than the obvious pressure you gotta get on Jalen to kind of rattle him, is there anything else you can do with a freshman quarterback?

CARLOS WATKINS: It's hard with a guy like him with such great poise. I really couldn't tell you. Like nothing really rattle him up, from what I've been seeing. But if we just continue to put pressure on quarterbacks, or you know, just Jalen, I think that alone will kind of mess him up a little bit.

Is there a mental aspect of it, you kind of like try to get into his head during the game?

CARLOS WATKINS: No. I don't really say too much, unless they say something to me. You know what I'm saying? I don't really say too much. I just go out there and play. Shout out to my scout team boys out there. Pat Guy, Logan, Tubby.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. I feel like this year, man, we have a lot closer bond as a team. Everybody gets along. It ain't only just like offense hangs out with offense, defense hangs out with defense. It's really like a brotherhood. It doesn't matter, like you could be a walk-on, scout team guy, you know, we're brothers. I'm going to treat you just like I treat my D linemen. It really don't matter. It's a brotherhood. I love all my teammates.

You guys, this is a rare chance, it never happens in college sports, like having a rematch, get this chance for revenge. How much is revenge -- I mean you don't go out and play with revenge on your mind, but it's gotta kind of be exciting to have that rare chance at revenge.

CARLOS WATKINS: I mean it is, though. I mean Alabama, you know, like I've been saying, they're the best, and in order to be the best, you gotta beat the best. That's how I take it. They've had the respect for a while, and they've been on the top for a while. So that's why it's good to get back and get another shot.

William Perry, Michael Dean Perry, no D tackle has ever had more sacks than Carlos Watkins. What does that mean?

CARLOS WATKINS: Oh, man. It's really a blessing. Last year after the game I was having doubts about coming back for my senior season. But I thank God I made the right choice to come back and play. But I really didn't even know that it was the brothers that held the record till after the game last week when Coach Swinney announced it. But that's a big honor, those two guys right there, to have that many sacks, it's just truly a blessing.

Did you do something in the off season that made you better at sacks?

CARLOS WATKINS: I really -- ain't nothing really too much that I changed. I know that coach Brooks really focused on us winning one on one, so anytime I was able to get a one on one I just try to win. We worked really hard in the summer, just working on pass rushes, just trying to work with our hands a lot. But just really winning one on ones was the biggest difference.

What a great redemption story you are. Take me back to 2013, how hard that was for you and where you are now. Was there a pint where you felt helpless back then?

CARLOS WATKINS: Honestly, it was. It got to a point like that. It was just I wanted to get back for that season, but my body just wouldn't allow me. But finally, once I got back on the field, I just wasn't myself for a while. And I kind of got discouraged. But I stayed on course. My teammates and my coaches did a great job of encouraging me along the process. But once I got back in the groove, you know, I started to gain a little more confidence. And that's really key, just gaining my confidence back.

When you experience such lows, does that allow you to appreciate these highs right now as a team and as an individual? Are you able to appreciate the highs even more now?

CARLOS WATKINS: Oh, most definitely. Especially like opportunities like this. I know young guys don't -- I know they don't realize how they should be very grateful for this opportunity. They're just enjoying the moment right now, but we have to let them know like this is rare. You might not ever get to this again in your college career, and I'm fortunate enough to go back to back. But it's really just a blessing.

Was there a time you didn't think you were going to make it? Was that real?

CARLOS WATKINS: After the Pittsburgh loss, you know.

I mean going back a couple, three or four years ago. Was there a point where you didn't think you would be here?

CARLOS WATKINS: I couldn't tell you. I really honestly didn't know, especially after that incident, you know. I probably wouldn't tell you I would be at a National Championship, especially not two years. But the guys and the coaching staff around here, man, it's just great to be around. Hopefully we have started a little dynasty here.

We hear so much about Alabama.

CARLOS WATKINS: That's why, you gotta earn it, though. Alabama has earned that right. They're putting out -- I mean how many defensive touchdowns they got this year?

11?

CARLOS WATKINS: 11 defensive touchdowns. That's crazy. That's why they get that kind of credit. Not taking a back seat or anything, but stuff like that get you recognized, you know. But I mean we're still going to play Clemson defense, though, regardless.

I heard you say something about embrace the target. Where did that come from? Where did those words come from?

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. We had a shirt. Coach Swinney. So we came back, once we got back from football and everything, he told us our motto this year is embrace the target. We know we was going to get everybody's best shot.

Did he mention the Cubs? Did you know that was their motto?

CARLOS WATKINS: I didn't know. But he did go to a Cubs game. And he was talking about -- he was saying Maddon. Maddon had a shirt on that said "try not to suck." That's what he said. If we don't suck, we're going to win.

With what's gone on in your career and coming up in this next game, how emotional are you going to be?

CARLOS WATKINS: Gosh. I've just been thinking about that moment, winning the game and the confetti start coming down, it's going to be very emotional. I really just sit back -- I sit back and think about it all the time. This opportunity is rare, and I just really just try to be as grateful as possible for this opportunity.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: Oh, yeah. Most definitely. That was a very good choice for me to come back.

Carlos, you've had so much success in Florida, bowl games, ACC Championship, Florida State. What is it about this state that brings out?

CARLOS WATKINS: I really couldn't tell you. We're just trying to play Clemson football, regardless of where we're at. I don't know. I guess we got a lot of games in this state. So it looks like it, but it really don't matter where we play. We just try to play Clemson football.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: That is very true. Somehow he stayed open the majority of the game last year. Nobody have really knew who he was at the time. But he made a name for himself in that game with a lot of big plays, though. But see, a lot of that was on the defense, you know, just missed assignment. He was wide open the majority of the game.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: Oh, definitely. He's a great player. Physical and fast. He's got great speed. But yeah, he definitely has our attention now.

Alabama was trying to say that they sort of feel like the underdogs, even though you guys are the underdogs.

CARLOS WATKINS: No. I ain't really heard nothing about that. I'm pretty sure they're just trying to find the edge.

How much is it still in your mind that they got 45 on you?

CARLOS WATKINS: It's crazy. I mean it was given. It was given to them. O.J. had like two touchdowns when he was wide open. Then he caught one that he took for like 65 yards. He didn't score, but he pretty much had 21 points by himself. But yeah, that just wasn't Clemson defense last year. Think guys are locked in and ready to go.

What's the edge you got in the game?

CARLOS WATKINS: I don't know. I really don't know the edge I have this game.

What are you most concerned about?

CARLOS WATKINS: Stopping the run. Honestly. They're a great run team. So I feel like we stop the run, it makes it a lot easier on the defense. They do have a bunch of running backs and a running quarterback as well. So it's going to be a challenge. But we don't back down for nobody.

What do you take away from playing the second National Championship game? You've already done it once. How different is this time?

CARLOS WATKINS: I don't want anybody to think it's different. It's still just a football game. I understand how big the game is. But just experience itself. A lot of guys don't get this opportunity, but last year was big for us. Just to have that experience, going undefeated, getting to the National Championship and losing, it wasn't what we wanted, but I think the experience really helped this team out a lot in getting back.

To do it twice.

CARLOS WATKINS: It's a blessing. You don't get the opportunity like this. There's some people in their careers that have never been, and I'm fortunate enough to go back to back. So it's really just a blessing.

What do you want to talk about? Talk about the game? Anything.

CARLOS WATKINS: No. I'm just ready to play. Ain't nothing that I really want to talk about too much.

Here in Tampa, National Championship, media day, everything that's gone on this week. What's the experience been like?

CARLOS WATKINS: It's definitely fun. But you don't want to have too much fun, you know, because we treat this as a business trip, not a bowl game. But you gotta soak in the moments because you're not going to get times like this. So you tell the guys to soak in the moment but don't enjoy it too much.

Is there any social thing you want to ask you to do, selfie style, describe the week and the rematch.

CARLOS WATKINS: I really suck at things like this. So I gotta record myself?

Same thing you've been saying all day, how the rematch feels, what it's like to have your second championship game.

CARLOS WATKINS: Hi, this your boy Carlos Watkins, happy to be back here at the National Championship game against Alabama it's been great down here in Tampa, having fun with my teammates. I'm ready for Monday, though. Let's go Tigers.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: I think we just needed to refocus. We were still riding high. Undefeated. I think we just needed to refocus. That game, that really humbled us, I would say. It got a lot of our guys' attention, which was big. But I think that was the main thing, you know, just getting guys refocused again.

What's difficult about preparing for the game with a new offensive coordinator for them?

CARLOS WATKINS: I don't know. Wasn't he the guy at NC State last year? He always give us problems. I don't know why. It's just a lot of different things he hit you with. One thing about Pittsburgh, I remember having linemen, a lot of switching, you know what I'm saying. Just stuff that would just throw your defense off because you wasn't used to seeing it. But I think that game right there got us pretty much prepared for anything.

Is that the best game you all played this year?

CARLOS WATKINS: Defensively? Probably so. We've had a couple good games defensively. That being Ohio State and the team that they are with a lot of talent, that really shows a lot.

Did you guys use Taj again?

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. He practiced with us this week.

How helpful is that to have a guy who's obviously (indiscernible).

CARLOS WATKINS: It's been a big help, because Coach Venables was normally our scout team quarterback, but he's a lot more athletic than Coach V, throws the ball better as well. But he also understands like -- he understood what we was trying to work on. He gave us a great look, especially like the D line, like standing in our rush lanes because a guy like Jalen will expose you. He got an opportunity to run because he got great feet and Taj was doing that. Anytime we get out of our rush lanes or anything, he would just take off running and really expose us in a way. So it really showed us things that we could get corrected.

So he helped you against Ohio State, too?

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. He did.

Did he teach you guys at all during the course of that? Did he make any plays against you guys?

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. He made some plays, great throws, good runs. Yeah. He definitely made some plays.

Facing a guy like that in practice, how does that help?

CARLOS WATKINS: Deshaun, he gets you ready for anything, like there's no quarterback out there like him. He can beat you on his feet and with the arm. He's prepared for anything, honestly. He's got great poise. He don't panic in the pocket. Even when I'm getting out there in practice, he's still able to make plays and throw the ball down the field.

Jalen is a guy who's been pretty unflappable all year, but against Washington he had (indiscernible). How important will it be to kind of get him out of his comfort zone?

CARLOS WATKINS: Just like with any quarterback, you gotta put pressure. You put pressure on the quarterback, it kind of -- you kind of get them discombobulated a little bit. And a couple of hits, quarterbacks don't like being hit. But I'm pretty sure a guy like Jalen who runs the ball a lot, I don't ever see him sliding or anything like that. He used to it. Normally like big hits and stuff like that kind of mess up a quarterback, but that's the thing. He's different. He got great poise. He don't really let anything get to him, but only thing I say you can put pressure on him, you could throw him off a little bit.

(Indiscernible).

CARLOS WATKINS: I think we're very motivated right now. I think we're just grateful to get the opportunity again, but I think the guys realize like this is rare, so guys been doing just a little extra. Coaches don't have to tell them. Just doing like extra stuff on their own because I think we realize how important this is to us.

Coach has said this has been a year-long process to get back to this moment. How have you guys used last year's loss to inspire you for this year?

CARLOS WATKINS: It was just stuff like that we were so close. And that was our first time being there. And playing against Alabama, one of the great teams. But last year it was just a great experience just to get there. But I think this year we got a lot of leaders on this team who got to experience it last year. Actually a lot of guys who got to experience it last year. So we know what it takes. That's the main thing.

The experience of been there, done that. How much is this team different?

CARLOS WATKINS: I think the growth, the leadership growth. Had a lot more guys on each like position, you know. We have a senior leader. So guys really, like myself, Ben, Jadar. We're really hard on each other. We're really hard on the younger guys. We just gotta let them know, like you don't get this in your life. So just seize the opportunity, take advantage of it.

(Indiscernible).

CARLOS WATKINS: I don't want to -- J is a character, though, man. I don't think I really have one right off the top of the head. I'm pretty sure J I know has a couple.

What do you think about his?

CARLOS WATKINS: Oh. What did he say?

(Indiscernible).

CARLOS WATKINS: Oh. He's funny, man. I'm pretty sure he got more than that. He just didn't open up to you all.

Talking about the experience of last year, a lot of guys are talking about (indiscernible)?

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. It's really big. Coach Swinney believe like last year we kind of limped our way to the finish line. But this year we understood what it took to get there, and we knew not really to kill ourselves or anything like that. Coach Swinney did a great job on just taking care of us this season, just making sure, you know what I'm saying, we're healthy in the right spots so we can finish strong.

(Indiscernible).

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. That's true. Hey, at this point of the season, you know, a lot of guys are banged up. You got one more game to go. I don't think it takes any beating up on each other anymore to get ready for a game. I think if you're not motivated for it, you're just not going to be ready to play. You know what I'm saying? Like a game like this should just motivate you itself. If you don't let this motivate you, I don't know what will.

(Inaudible).

CARLOS WATKINS: Well, this is the last game of the year. I know Coach V is going to put us in the right call no matter what. But it's the last game of the year. I don't think they will throw anything crazy out there. Jalen is a freshman. I don't think they will want to change any kind of their tendencies. The offense really has gotten adjusted. I mean they're a run-first team. So I mean when you got great backs and quarterback that can run the ball, I don't think anything is going to change. I think they're still going to run the ball and let Jalen make plays with his feet and still do what they do.

(Indiscernible).

CARLOS WATKINS: It'll be a great match up. Watching film, the guys they will be a great challenge. They're very physical. They move well. So it'll be a great challenge for us interior linemen.

How would you describe the advantage you think you have here?

CARLOS WATKINS: I don't really want to get into a lot. But I guess guys, I mean we're kind of deep in that position. I don't know how they rotate their guards or whatnot. But we got guys that can come in and continue to put pressure on the quarterback. It don't have to be me and Dexter. Scott and Albert can come in and still do the same thing.

(Indiscernible).

CARLOS WATKINS: I ain't a big fan of the media, man. Like I'll do it, but I don't really like getting in front of the cameras and microphones and all that.

This is gotta be particularly uncomfortable.

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. It is. It is.

How do you feel about Monday?

CARLOS WATKINS: Feel good about Monday, man. Feel real good, real, real good. I am hungry. I'm ready to eat.

In the days of college football, good defenses hold the team on the 20. Great defense is holding them in the teens. Urban Meyer and Ohio State. How proud are you of that?

CARLOS WATKINS: That was really cool, especially confidence wise just letting us know we can play at a high level. It really showed us like when we really play Clemson defense, what we're capable of doing.

How good a tackle is Robinson?

CARLOS WATKINS: Oh, he's the best in the game. He's definitely the best in the game. Watching film, he runs really well, very strong. He's definitely the best in the game.

When you look at Clemson, everybody talks about elite programs. They don't throw you in. Does that bother you guys a little bit?

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. Of course. We got here back to back. I still don't think we get the ready we deserve. But that's why we need to win it. You gotta earn respect, you know, and that's why I'm kind of glad we're playing Alabama. In order to be the best you gotta beat the best, that's how we look at it.

Nobody's going to accuse you of backing in beating Ohio State and Alabama; right?

CARLOS WATKINS: They really can't say too much about that after that. That's two great teams. If we pull that off beating Ohio State and then Alabama, I don't think can't nobody say too much about us then.

The Ohio State game is living proof that games are won or lost in the trenches. Do you expect it'll be a war Monday night against Alabama?

CARLOS WATKINS: Of course. They're a heavy run team. The coaches have told us it starts up front. So it's my job to get these boys ready on the D line, just try and be as disruptive as possible, put pressure on Jalen and really contain that run.

Coach Venables is like the mad scientist. We know you got something ready. But you guys have taken stemming to a new level. It's almost like the count before you guys are moving and set. That really causes the offense defense, doesn't it?

CARLOS WATKINS: Yeah. It definitely does. It messes with them a lot because once they got down, they see us in a certain defense or whatever. But when they get down and look up, you know, we probably done move or adjusted something real quick. It definitely gives the offense a fit.

(Indiscernible)?

CARLOS WATKINS: I throw him a Scooby Snack. No, no. Just trying to be that big brother for him because guys did me the same way when I first got in you had guys like Deshaun, Grady and Josh who took me under their wing. But I just want to do the same thing for him, man. He's worked hard. He's challenged me. So I just want to take him under my wing, show him the ropes, and the guy is capable of doing a lot.

If you could change one thing about college football, one thing, what would you change?

CARLOS WATKINS: We get paid. Yeah. We definitely should get paid. But that's one thing I would definitely change.

Also, outside of yourself, who's the most important reason you're here? What person?

CARLOS WATKINS: Besides God?

Besides God. That's a great answer.

CARLOS WATKINS: I guess my dad, you know. The sacrifices he made for the family. It was real big. He showed me a lot through the sacrifices he made and everything. So I would definitely say my dad.

Besides God is the best answer I've heard today.

CARLOS WATKINS: All right.

JAY GUILLERMO

What do you think of this Media Day?

JAY GUILLERMO: It's pretty crazy. Just for all of our fans to be here at Media Day, just shows you the support that we have and it's one of those things where it's not just now. We always have this kind of support. It's really something special.

How would you describe it?

JAY GUILLERMO: It just shows you the spirit of Clemson. Just shows you why Clemson is special. Why we came here to play football and watch the best university in the country.

Do you think Alabama ever gets tired of it?

JAY GUILLERMO: I don't know if you necessarily say get tired of it. They are in the position they are always in here because they earned it. They do what they need to do and play football the way it's supposed to be played. I mean, I don't know if necessarily say they get tired, because I know I never get tired of watching clean football, and that's what they play.

Inaudible.

JAY GUILLERMO: I'm sure they are. A lot of people like the underdog. Us being the underdog, I'm sure people are going to root for us. We're kind of -- we've got Coach Sweeney, the kind of excited, young coach kind of deal. People like that and buy into it, just like we have. So yeah, I'm sure people will be rooting for us.

Message from -- (audio recording played): Can you give us any hints about the game coming up?

JAY GUILLERMO: Yeah, just got to contain those guy, all of them up front. They have about a two-deep that's pretty dadgum good at playing football. Whenever I tell you, they get after it, and we've just got to do a really good job using our technique, fundamentals and being able to come out and win the line of scrimmage.

Inaudible.

JAY GUILLERMO: Well, I've always grown up a Clemson fan and I knew that's where I wanted to go. It's just for one thing, you always hear it and it's cliché around Clemson but it's a family atmosphere and something you don't get anywhere else. All these other places that you visit, it's just nothing quite like it, as you see today.

I mean, just getting out there and meeting all the coaches, how genuine they are. Some coaches like to shoot the breeze but these guys, they are straight down on the point and I really appreciated that. I felt like that was something that just separated them from every other university.

Since you've arrived -- is that a vision that you saw?

JAY GUILLERMO: Oh, yeah and it's like Stephone Anthony said back like 2011: "Clemson's coming."

So that's always the goal and that's always something that you strive to be and obviously they are the top. So yeah, we knew that we could do it and it was just going out and doing it, and I believe this we kind of separated ourselves with those guys.

What's your favorite part of what's coming?

JAY GUILLERMO: The whole thing is pretty cool. There's like a putt-putt course. It's pretty neat. Just getting to go take a tour through it. Just all the different amenities that just come with it, and not only for -- I know obviously it's big and oh, recruits are like, I definitely want to go there. But just really being able to be a part of that and say that, hey -- there's a little part in the weight room that kind of holds up, it's one of the beams on top of the weight room that all the former players go and sign. And that's something that's really special to me because we went and signed it, and it's something that, you know, saying that you guys built this, and that's something pretty special to me.

Inaudible.

JAY GUILLERMO: Sky is the limit, really. Just all the recruits that we've got coming in, such a good job that Coach Sweeney and all the other coaches do in recruiting, I know there's not doing to be a drop-off after big-time guys like Deshaun or Ben or Carlos leaves. It's going to be just getting even better. I'm really excited to see what they can do.

You are a lifelong Clemson guy, probably have really good perspective on this: What has Deshaun meant to you?

JAY GUILLERMO: Well, obviously the guy might be the best, if not the best, player in Clemson history. For him to just be -- for one thing, to know him personally, and to know the kind of person he is, the kind of work ethic that he has, is so special.

But yeah...

 

[TigerJBM]

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

 

[anon_s7mtzi79509cl]

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

 

[TigerJBM]

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

 

[anon_s7mtzi79509cl]

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

 

[gocu!!]

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

 

[Zothras]

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

 

[anon_s7mtzi79509cl]

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.