Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson was named a finalist for the 2015 Heisman Trophy by the Downtown Athletic Club in New York on Monday. Watson will travel to New York later this week to take part in all Heisman Finalist events and Saturday’s Heisman Presentation Ceremony.

Watson, who guided the Tigers to a 13-0 record and to the No. 1 spot in all the major polls and rankings, is the first Clemson player to be named a finalist for College Football’s most prestigious award.

“This means a lot because I have come a long way from last year,” Watson said. “A year ago on December 12, I was recovering from surgery. I remember watching a story about Adrian Peterson and how he suffered a torn ACL (December 2011), but came back to become the MVP of the NFL that next year. That inspired me to work hard on my rehab.”

The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust ensures the continuation and integrity of this award. The Trust, furthermore, has a charitable mission to support amateur athletics and to provide greater opportunities to the youth of our country. Our goal through these charitable endeavors is for the Heisman Trophy to symbolize the fostering of a sense of community responsibility and service to our youth, especially those disadvantaged or afflicted. All assets of the Trust beyond the expense of maintaining the annual presentation of the Heisman Memorial Trophy are reserved for such charitable causes. The Trustees, who all serve pro bono, are guided by a devotion to college football and are committed to community service and the valued tradition which the Trophy represents.

“It has been a dream of mine to bring my mom to New York and be a Heisman finalist. We have never been to New York,” Watson said. “I am honored to be the first Heisman finalist from Clemson. I plan to represent our team and Clemson University and the Clemson family this weekend.

“This could not have been done without my teammates and our coaches. This is a team award as much as anything.  Being undefeated and No. 1 ranked has everything to do with this. I want to give congratulations to the other finalists and I look forward to seeing them this weekend.”

By being named a finalist, Watson is guaranteed to finish higher in the Heisman Trophy race than any other former Tigers. In 2009, running back C.J. Spiller finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy race, but he was not invited to New York for the presentation.

Spiller, who was a unanimous first-team All-American in 2009, was one of the nation’s leader’s in all-purpose yards and led the ACC in rushing on his way to ACC Player of the Year honors. He finished his career with an NCAA record seven kickoff returns for a touchdown.

In 1978, quarterback Steve Fuller also finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He guided the Tigers to their second straight ACC Championship and to an 11-1 record and a No. 6 final ranking in the Final Associated Press Poll. At the time, that was the highest final ranking by any Clemson until the 1981 team won the national championship three years later.

Fuller, like Spiller and Watson, was also the ACC Player of the Year, but he is the only Clemson player in history to win the award in back-to-back years.

Watson, whose Tigers will play No. 4 Oklahoma in the Orange on New Year’s Eve, led the ACC this year with 3,512 yards and 30 touchdowns this year. He also led all quarterbacks with 887 yards and 11 touchdowns.

His 11 rushing touchdowns led Clemson. He was also named the ACC Championship Game’s Most Valuable Player as he totaled 420 yards and was responsible for five touchdowns in Clemson’s 45-37 victory over North Carolina. Both of those marks were ACC Championship Game records.