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Swinney: Watson healthier now than during South Carolina win

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney concurs with quarterback Deshaun Watson that Watson's rehab is going well. And it's apparently going well enough for Swinney to invoke his team's win over South Carolina.

"His rehab has gone tremendous," Swinney told ESPN. "He's probably about 80 percent right now. Most people would be 50 or 60, but he's not most people. He's a uniquely wired individual. He's great. He's healthier now than he was when he beat South Carolina."

Is it a matter of fact statement? Likely, yes, but given the verbal back and forth between Swinney and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, there's a good chance there's a dash of trolling intention in bringing up the game. It was the first win in the series for Clemson since 2008. Spurrier was happy to talk about his team's win streak during its duration.

Watson played the game on a torn ACL. He had initially sustained what the team termed a torn LCL and bone bruise in his left knee. According to Swinney, he sustained the ACL during practice a week later. Watson wore a brace on the knee for the South Carolina game.

He had surgery before Clemson's blowout of Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl and said earlier in March that he was a month ahead of schedule in his rehab. But since he's so close to surgery he's not practicing this spring. Nick Schuessler, the third-string quarterback in 2014 behind Watson and Cole Stoudt, is getting the majority of the playing time.

For more Clemson news, visit TigerIllustrated.com.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!