Panthers QB Cam Newton: My Heisman vote going to Clemson’s Deshaun Watson

A few weeks before his ballot is due, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton knows who’s getting his Heisman vote – Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Watson, a native of Gainesville, Ga., who has led the Tigers to the No. 1 ranking, played on the first 7-on-7 all-star team that Newton took to a national tournament in Florida in 2012.

“That’s my little brother, man. I’ve seen Deshaun grow,” Newton said Wednesday. “When I first met Deshaun he was in 11th grade and he was on my all-star team. He was always eager. He was like a sponge. Quiet, but yet always looking to see how he could make his game better. For me to see him playing down the road at Clemson, it’s great.”

Watson is coming off a big game at Syracuse, where he completed 34 of 47 passes for 360 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 101 yards and a score.

The performance bumped Watson from fifth to second – behind Alabama running back Derrick Henry – in USA Today’s weekly Heisman survey.

“When you see a kid that you nurtured for so long and now he’s making a big impact in college football, it’s kind of a big deal. Potentially a Heisman Trophy winner, hopefully,” Newton said of Watson. “I’m pretty sure he’s looking at this saying I better get (Newton’s) vote.”

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 5:20 PM.