Alabama wanted to sign Deshaun Watson ‘bad.’ Now he’s facing the Tide again

Last year, Alabama beat Clemson in the National Championship, despite Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson throwing four touchdowns and going over 400 yards. Now the teams are meeting again on Monday, and Watson’s again in the spotlight as the game’s most crucial player.

At a press conference before last year’s game, then-Bama defensive coordinator and current Georgia coach Kirby Smart talked about how much Alabama wanted Watson as a recruit.

‘We wanted him; we wanted him bad,’ Smart said. ‘I can’t remember who the offensive coordinator was when he came out but I think we were in a changeover somewhat. ... But we offered him and thought a lot of him, thought very highly of him.’

Watson at Alabama could have been very interesting. For a time, perhaps the most Watson-like quarterback to ever play for the Crimson Tide was fellow Gainesville, Ga., native Blake Sims.

While Sims wasn’t near the runner Watson is — 350 yards in his senior year to over 1,000 for Watson last year — he did set Alabama’s single-season and single-game passing records as a senior. This year’s Tide QB, true freshman Jalen Hurts, is a dangerous runner and shares that with Watson, though he’s not the passer Watson is. (Nor was Sims.)

While he was at Alabama, Smart recruited Georgia for the Tide. So he recruited Watson heavily. After the National Championship last year, he took over at UGA, which missed out on Watson as an in-state prospect.

When asked if he would have recruited Watson hard at Georgia, Smart was somewhat coy in his response.

‘I think you always go after in-state kids that are that talented,’ said Smart, offering the slightest hint of a grin.

Watson is now a two-time Heisman finalist and Davey O’Brien Award winner. Alabama’s been just fine without him, but it’s fair to say both the Tide and Bulldogs could’ve found a use for him.