SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Shortly after the Fiesta Bowl matchup between Ohio State and Clemson was announced, Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett sent a text message.
The recipient was someone Barrett only met recently, but a person for which he has great respect: Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson.
“I said, ‘I’ll see you in Arizona, brother,” Barrett recalled. “He said, ‘All right, let’s get it.”
It was a short and sweet conversation between two of the biggest names in college football who will share the big stage Saturday when Ohio State and Clemson meet in the Fiesta Bowl. But while Barrett and Watson are both ultra-competitive and two of the very best at their respective positions, they’ve also become good friends.
They met in the summer of 2015 as counselors for the Elite 11 camp in Beaverton, Oregon. Barrett and Watson hit it off immediately and they’ve remained in contact ever since.
“Just a good relationship from there, talked periodically here and there throughout the season,” Barrett said. “We’d see each other, if we had big games we sent a text like, ‘Do your thing.’ It’s mostly just in-season encouraging and understanding that quarterbacks have an elite little fraternity.”
Speaking on Wednesday, just three days before their matchup on the field, Watson shared a similar sentiment.
“We met at the Elite 11 and we became friends Day 1. We just started clicking from there,” Watson said. “It’s all love and respect. We want the best for one another and just going out there and competing.”
Both have achieved a ridiculous amount of success, too.
Watson is a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist and, potentially, the top pick in next year's NFL Draft. This season, the junior from Gainesville, Georgia threw for 3,914 yards and 37 touchdowns while adding another 524 yards and six scores on the ground. Watson led the Tigers to a national championship game appearance a year ago and he’s looking to take his team one step further this season.
Meanwhile, Barrett has plenty of accolades in his own right. He owns nearly every Ohio State record for a quarterback and can still add to those totals should he choose to come back next season for a fifth year. As the man orchestrating the Buckeyes’ attack this season, Barrett threw for 2,428 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding 847 rushing yards and nine additional scores on the ground.
So, yeah, it makes perfect sense these two have a strong friendship.
“It’s going to be exciting,” Barrett said. “We’re both competitors, love our teams and we’re going to fight to the end in order to get that victory.”
Watson said he has not talked to Barrett since they arrived in town for the Fiesta Bowl — they’re both a little busy right now, you know? — but the plan is to catch up briefly before the game and then they’ll be sure to find each other afterward.
The reason for that is rather simple: Game recognize game.
“We support one another, we respect one another and we just want the best for one another,” Watson said. “It’s a great relationship.”
