Deshaun Watson Says People Assume He's a Run-First Quarterback Because He's Black

Clemson QB Deshaun Watson speaks out against people assuming he's a run-first quarterback because he's black.

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Clemson sophomore signal caller Deshaun Watson is equally effective at zipping the ball to his receivers and running out of the pocket for the first down. But just because he's a black quarterback, don't you dare label him as a "dual threat quarterback." He hates when people make that connection. "People think, 'Oh, he's a black quarterback, he must be dual-threat,'" Watson toldBleacher Report. "People throw around that word all the time. It's lazy." 

Watson burst onto the college football scene last season by throwing for 4,109 yards, rushing for 1,105 yards, and scoring 47 total touchdowns. His style of play echoes that of other former NCAA quarterbacks, like Johnny Manziel, Vince Young, Tim Tebow, and Cam Newton. Still, for some reason, the stereotypical dual-threat label seems to be solely reserved for African American signal callers.

"People have assumed that I have to run the ball before I can throw it most all of my career, all the way back before high school. It's a stereotype put on me for a long time because I'm African-American and I'm a dual-threat quarterback," he said. "I don't know why that stereotype is still around. It's about talent and the ability to throw the ball, not the color of your skin or your ability to also be a dangerous runner." 

While it may appear that he's bothered by the dual-threat label, Watson actually uses it as motivation to "make his mark." Deshaun is a thrower first who uses his feet when the situation calls for it, and he will use his junior year to, once again, dispel the stereotype about African American quarterbacks.   

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