Johnson is the conference's leading rusher at 140.5 yards per game, but he has had 68 more carries than Watson this season. Watson's average of 6.3 yards per rush is the best among the league's premier backs. He also has 10 touchdowns, including three of more than 58 yards. The Palmetto High School product verbally committed to both the Gamecocks and Volunteers in 1999 and his destination wasn't known until signing day that year. Holtz finally sold Watson on the prospect of being a hometown boy who turns around the struggling state school.
Players choosing to come to South Carolina and stay in-state is what it's all about.
We wanted to come here and make history, and that's what we are doing. Watson, who has 158 receiving yards, leads the league with 170.8 all-purpose yards per game. He came here when he didn't have to. He told me he wanted the challenge and that he wanted to be someone who helped turn the program around. He has been instrumental in the success of our football team.