Clemson News Roundup 8/18/2016

Brianna Rollins absolutely dominated in Rio, Deshaun Watson gets even more press, #WideReceiverU news plus a soccer update .

Brianna Rollins:

The gun sounded and Rollins was off. She took an early lead and held it, flying down the track and extending her lead as she progressed through the 100 meters. Take a second and watch.

Directly behind Rollins was fellow American Nia Ali, who took silver. Kristi Castlin beat Cindy Ofili of Great Britain by inches, finishing .02 seconds ahead of Ofili to secure bronze.

The trio of Americans made up the first ever group of teammates ever to sweep the event in olympic history. The trio’s times were 12.48, 12.59 and 12.61 respectively.

Deshaun Watson:

Deshaun Watson got a lot of press this past week, once again. He took out two five million dollar insurance policies and was ranked the number-one QB in the NCAA by NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks. But in addition to all that, one thing was certain: Don’t call Deshaun Watson a “Dual-threat” quarterback.

In the Bleacher Report article written by Matt Hayes (which can be read here), Watson touches on a number of topics including his mother, wanting to be the face of college football and much more. The key moment of the interview came when Hayes asked Watson about dealing with “black-quarterback stereotypes.”

Watson: I have no idea, but it's there. People think, 'Oh, he's a black quarterback, he must be dual-threat.' People throw around that word all the time. It's lazy. The one thing I learned early on as a football player is people have their opinions, and I can't change them. But I can show them what they're missing.

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. 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.

It bothered me when I was young until I finally realized the only way to change it is to make your mark on the field and force them to see. So that's what I've been doing.

Wide Receiver U:

There are two members of the Wide Receiver U group who have been impressing leading up to their respective seasons. The first, Charone Peake, recently finished his Clemson career and was a seventh-round draft pick by the New York Jets.

Currently, he is fighting for a roster spot, something not given to every seventh-round pick, and making it very hard for the Jets to let him walk. He had four catches for 45 receiving yards and a touchdown in his preseason debut. He is also making plays like this one during practice.

Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Mike Williams, who missed last season with a neck injury, also is ready to make an impact this season. Unlike Peake, who has left his mark on the #WRU legacy, Williams will use this year to add his name to the likes of DeAndre Hopkins, Martavis Bryant and more. According to Wide Receivers Coach Jeff Scott, Williams has all the ability he needs to be on that level.

“I think he has potential to be as good as any guy that we’ve had here. He definitely has potential to be in that conversation,” Scott said in an interview with The Post and Courier. “He’s made some plays in practice that remind us of some of those guys whenever they were here. There’s no doubt we see him in that same light.”

Additionally, Scott mentioned that doctors say that when Williams returns from injury he should not experience any lingering effects and that it will be “as if nothing has ever happened whatsoever.”

The full story on Williams’ return can be read here.

Clemson Soccer:

The last bit of news this week involves the third ranked men’s soccer team. The team played their first preseason game against High Point University this past week, tying 1-1 with the Panthers.

Clemson took a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute on a goal by senior Alex Happi but Siggi Benonysson tied the game for the High Point with a minute left in the first half. Both sides remained scoreless for the rest of the game. A full recap can be read here.

The Tigers play their final exhibition tomorrow night against Duke and open the season next Friday at South Carolina.