South Carolina running back keeps defenses off balance

BOB HOLT
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

FAYETTEVILLE -- South Carolina Coach Lou Holtz has some advice for opposing teams trying to stop Gamecocks sophomore running back Derek Watson.
"If I was defensing him," Holtz said, "I'd tell the defensive players, 'If you miss him, stand still, because he'll eventually come back to you.'
"You never know where he's going."
Most of the time Watson has wound up going forward when the play is finished, no matter how many times he reverses field.
Going into Saturday's Arkansas-South Carolina game at Columbia, S.C., Watson is averaging an SEC-best 176 all-purpose yards per game to help lead the Gamecocks to a 5-1 record after they came into the season with a 21-game losing streak.
Holtz said before the season that Watson "could put the team on his shoulders and carry it offensively" if he got enough blocking and stayed focused.
Both things have happened as Watson, 6-1 and 210 pounds, has rushed 103 times for 612 yards and 8 touchdowns, caught 15 passes for 152 yards, returned 12 kickoffs for 281 yards and returned 1 punt for 11 yards.
Watson also has attempted one pass, which was incomplete against Alabama when wide receiver James Adkisson dropped it. But Watson's arm strength impressed Holtz.
"He threw a pass 45 yards, right on the money," Holtz said. "He runs, he blocks, he returns kicks, he makes unbelievable catches.
"We were talking [last week before going to Kentucky] and you can only take 70 players on the road, and we find out Derek might be our best backup center we have on this team. I said, 'What can't the sucker do?' "
Watson, who set a state rushing record with 6,766 yards at Williamson (S.C.) Palmetto High School, chose to stay home and play for the Gamecocks, turning down their SEC East rivals Florida and Georgia.
As a freshman, Watson led the Gamecocks with 394 rushing yards as the team was forced to play six quarterbacks and 16 offensive linemen because of injuries and finished 114th nationally in scoring offense (7.9 points) and total offense (228.6 yards).
Holtz decided to scrap the I-formation offense and spread the field, going to a one-back, four-receiver set with quarterback Phil Petty in the Shotgun on many snaps.
The Gamecocks have stayed healthy for the most part and Watson has excelled in the new offense, piling up yards on draws and on passes out of the backfield after not having a reception last season. Against Eastern Michigan in the third game this season, all of Watson's 215 rushing yards came on draw plays out of the Shotgun.
"I feel a whole lot better on the field," Watson said. "I can read the defenses better and it's like I can see the play before it even happens.
"We spread the defenses out, we come at them with the no-huddle, we can run and throw. We couldn't get into any kind of zone last year, but it's a totally different feeling now.
"I really think I can score every time I touch the ball."
Watson's big plays this season have included:

a 65-yard touchdown run vs. Eastern Michigan

a 58-yard touchdown run vs. Kentucky

a 53-yard kickoff return vs. Georgia

a 36-yard reception vs. New Mexico State

a 32-yard run vs. Eastern Michigan

a 30-yard reception vs. Alabama
"There's no doubt Watson is one of the best big-play backs in the conference now," Arkansas co-defensive coordinator Bobby Allen said. "He looks like a wild horse looking to get out of the stable, and he comes out bucking and looking for daylight.
"I've seen him where he has busted it up the middle and taken it to the house and I've seen him where he's gone around the end and all of a sudden reversed his field and come out the back door trying to make a play."
Holtz said Watson has matured on and off the field since his freshman year.
"He goes to class, it isn't a struggle, he's always on time, he's just matured and really become a team-oriented type guy," Holtz said. "I mean, the players have tremendous respect for him and his dedication and commitment, as I do.
"He wants to be good and he wants to play with a winner and help turn this program around."

This article was published on Thursday, October 12, 2000

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