FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — Because of his running ability, Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight is emulating Clemson's Deshaun Watson during bowl practices, according to linebacker Dominique Alexander.
Knight emulated Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, a mobile passer like Watson, during practices for the 2013 Cotton Bowl, as well.
"We do different things because Trevor is mobile and he can run and he's a great athlete, so from time to time we'll stick him back there just to give us a different look," Alexander said.
Watson completed 69.5 percent of his passes for 3,517 yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season. The sophomore added 887 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground as well.
He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Alabama running back Derrick Henry and Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey.
"Just (Watson's) ability, though, to handle the football, we've got to make sure whatever we're doing, we can account for him," OU defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said. "You still can't overplay him because they have so many other great players on the perimeter, too. That's what makes their offense effective."
For comparison, OU quarterback Baker Mayfield, who finished fourth in the Heisman voting, threw for 3,389 yards, 35 touchdowns and five interceptions. He rushed for 420 yards and seven scores, as well.
"(Watson) has a lot of Baker in him, too, in the throwing game, but the design runs are those are a lot of design plays for him," Stoops said. "In the scheme you have to make sure it can account for him. The breakdown plays are just athletic plays that he's going to make that any athletic quarterback can make."
Against Texas A&M in 2013, the Sooners gave up 41 points and 633 yards of total offense, including 516 yards and four touchdowns to Manziel alone.
When OU played TCU and Trevone Boykin, another mobile quarterback in 2014, Oklahoma gave up 469 yards total — 395 to Boykin.
Alexander said facing a player like Mayfield every day in practice has better prepared the Sooners to face mobile quarterbacks than teams of years past.
"Any time you have a guy who can run and pass, it makes it tough," he said. "You look at our quarterback, Baker, that's what makes him so dangerous because you can't keep him in the pocket.
"If he gets out of the pocket he can extend the play so much he can just make a big play happen, and that's what he's able to do with his feet and his arm."
