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Deshaun Watson has special connection to Falcons, Matt Ryan

Clemson's Deshaun Watson celebrates a last second touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow in the second half of the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Alabama in Tampa, Fla.
Clemson's Deshaun Watson celebrates a last second touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow in the second half of the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Alabama in Tampa, Fla.
By Juliakate E Culpepper
April 25, 2017

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson grew up in Gainesville, Ga., just a few minutes away from the Atlanta Falcons’ practice facility in Flowery Branch.

In an interview conducted by DraftKings, Watson discusses how he became a ball boy for the Falcons through the Boys and Girls Club when he was in ninth grade at Gainesville High School.

As time went on, Watson was around the Falcons’ players enough to meet and learn from Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan.

“I was a behind the scenes guy to get everything prepared and I was always around Matt (Ryan),” Watson said. “He found out I was committed to Clemson and getting ready to go to college and stuff like that, so our relationship even got closer because he went to Boston College so we used to always joke around about the rivalry between the two schools. I used to throw the balls with him and watch him work and he would watch me.”

Watson’s full interview can be watched below:

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Juliakate E Culpepper
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