Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson has certainly captured the attention of football fans across the country the last two seasons. He has been one of the best players on the field night in and night out and was a Heisman finalist in 2015.
However, Watson knows that he didn’t have the best of lives growing up, so he certainly appreciates being given a second chance. At the College Football Playoff media day on Saturday, Watson was asked about his childhood and he brought up a story about former Florida State and NFL running back Warrick Dunn furnishing his childhood home.
“I felt grown having my own room,” Watson recalled Saturday. “Just having my own bed, not really being squished, not really worrying about someone sneaking up on me, it was a great moment, a special moment.”
Watson grew up in Gainesville, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta, in a neighborhood which he described as “the hood.” He knew that he had to do something to get away from all the trouble surrounding him, so he was given that chance by Dunn, who helped him and his family out when he was just 11 years old.
“We just try to help put people in safer environments and give kids an opportunity,” Dunn said. “You never know what impact you will have. You hope it’s a positive impact.”
Watson saw this as an opportunity to continue to pay it forward. To this day, Watson still assists with Habitat for Humanity, building homes for the organization in the summer.
Who would’ve thought that Dunn going out of his way to help a family in need would translate into Watson becoming one of the best college quarterbacks in the country and a win away from winning the national championship.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
