Cook earned nine votes for both awards, while Watson was the convincing victor with 39 votes of the overall award and 40 for the offensive award. The sophomore has 19 total touchdowns and leads the ACC and in rushing yards per game (150.7), yards per carry (7.9), all-purpose yards (1,876), total rushing yards, rushing touchdowns (18) and scoring (10.4).
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Watson is the third Clemson quarterback to win the award, joining Tajh Boyd, who was ACC Player of the Year in 2012, and Steve Fuller, who was voted the league’s top player in 1977 and 1978.
Also on Wednesday, Clemson junior defensive end Shaq Lawson was second in voting for ACC Defensive Player of the Year behind Duke safety Jeremy Cash.
Watson received 39 of a possible 50 votes cast by members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association, becoming the eighth player in Clemson football history to be so honored.
Watson wanted to lead, and the team responded, winning its first 12 games during his sophomore season and climbing to No. 1 in the polls. I mean that’s just life if you have good players.
Cash is also in consideration for several national awards this year, and was recently announced as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award for the top defensive back, the Bronco Nagurski Award for the top defensive player, and the Lott IMPACT Trophy given to the top defender with the best character.
“I’ve just been staying focused and blocking out the noise and distractions”, Watson said. He amassed at least 100 tackles in all three seasons he has played at Duke and is the school’s career leader in caused fumbles with nine.
“It’s not just me working and achieving those goals, it’s the whole team working, motivating me, pushing me”, he said.
Watkins has 25 tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception return for a touchdown for the top-ranked Tigers (12-0, 8-0 ACC), who meet eighth-ranked North Carolina in the ACC Championship game on Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
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“Of course”, he said, “I’m going to embrace it, have fun with it. I’ve never been to NY, so it would be my first time”.
