Last week, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook reminded him of Atlanta Falcons standout quarterback Matt Ryan when Ryan was in college.

After beating Cook and the Spartans in the Cotton Bowl, the No. 2 Tide will now face another star quarterback when it plays No. 1 Clemson in the national championship game Monday night -- Tigers sophomore Deshaun Watson, a dual-threat player who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.

A reporter asked Smart Wednesday if Watson reminds him of any other quarterbacks, asking if Watson is similar to former SEC dual-threat quarterbacks like Johnny Manziel or Nick Marshall or if he is unique.

"I would say he's unique. You could go there," Smart said of the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Watson, a Georgia native who has thrown for 3,699 yards and 31 touchdowns while also running for 1,032 yards and 12 scores. "It's almost like a mixture of the three guys, with Nick Marshall as a perimeter runner. Deshaun runs well on the perimeter. Johnny Manziel was a great athlete, create things in space. So does Deshaun Watson. This guy runs more power run game like you would say Cam Newton does.

"Obviously he's not the same stature as Cam, but he runs some of the similar plays that Auburn ran with him. So the mixture of those three guys. He takes a little bit from each one because he can pass the ball. I watched this kid in high school. He is a phenomenal player. But more than that, he has the 'it' factor. They believe in him. That's pretty important at that position."

Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland and defensive lineman Jonathan Allen both said Watson reminds them of Tennessee dual-threat quarterback Josh Dobbs.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Dobbs was 13 of 22 for 171 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions during a 19-14 loss to the Tide Oct. 24. He also ran for 57 yards on 11 carries, not counting sacks.

Dobbs threw for 2,291 yards with 15 touchdowns and just five interceptions this season while also running for 671 yards and 11 scores.

"Similar characteristics," Allen said of Watson. "Not as big, but a dual-threat quarterback that can throw the ball."

Tide outside linebacker Dillon Lee said Watson is "kind of like [Mississippi State star quarterback] Dak Prescott, but more mobile."

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Prescott threw for 3,793 yards this year with 29 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also ran for 588 yards and 10 scores after running for 986 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior last season.

"He's got better moves in space and creates space for himself better than Dak Prescott," Lee said.

Rivals ranked Watson as a five-star recruit and the top quarterback prospect in the 2014 recruiting class.

Smart said Alabama "wanted him bad," but Watson chose to sign with Clemson.

Behind Watson, the Tigers are ranked 11th nationally in total offense heading into next Monday.

"The guy is an outstanding player and does a great job of executing their offense," Tide coach Nick Saban said. "Tremendous dual-threat in terms of being a very good passer and rushing for over 1,000 yards this year. Really is a very good rhythm passer as well as a guy who can sustain plays and extend plays because of his athleticism and ability to scramble.

"Really is probably as fine a dual-threat quarterback as we've played against for a long, long time, and certainly does an outstanding job of executing their offense, and there's no question about the fact that he's an outstanding leader as well because you can see the way the players sort of rally around him."