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Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins found out after his freshman year he had plenty to learn, despite his record-breaking, All-American performance.
On the field, it is playing through injuries, staying true to technique and not believing the hype about his skills that followed each game in the Tigers' Atlantic Coast Conference championship season. Off the field, it's handling the wild expectations followed by the disappointment from fans after his drug arrest last May.
Watkins will miss No. 14 Clemson's first two games as punishment, including its opener against Auburn at the Georgia Dome on Sept. 1. The sophomore says the arrest and suspension reminded him he's the focus almost anywhere he goes.
He said it showed him how important he is ''to Clemson and the parents and little kids that walk around here, kids that look up to me. It shows I'm being watched everywhere and I've got to keep it straight.''
That's also true once Watkins returns to the field on Sept. 15 and becomes the focus of defenses after his breakout season.
Watkins was a highly regarded prospect out of South Fort Myers High School in Florida who figured to find his way on the field his first year at Clemson. But Watkins barely left after winning a starting job in summer camp.
Clemson receivers coach Jeff Scott was amazed at how locked in Watkins was to the offense, scribbling page after page of notes so he could study on his own when not at practice of meetings. The effort paid off; Watkins quickly became a focal-point in coordinator Chad Morris' super-charged attack. He led the Tigers with seven catches in his debut against Troy, then in front of a national audience two weeks later, had 10 catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns in Clemson's 38-24 win over Auburn.
Watkins helped the Tigers get off to an 8-0 start, the team rising to No. 5 in the national rankings. Watkins, slowed by a shoulder injury, swooned at the end of his freshman season along with the rest of his team. The Tigers lost three of their final four regular-season games but recovered to win their first league championship in 20 years. Watkins' 53-yard TD catch in the third quarter helping to break open a game with Virginia Tech that was tied 10-all at the half.
Watkins finished the season with 82 catches for 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns - the last two categories Clemson single-season records - and earned a laundry list of postseason awards.
He acknowledged it was difficult at times last season not to believe he was unstoppable after hearing about his achievements on campus (some 2014 NFL mock drafts have Watkins a top-5 selection) and experiencing Clemson's unbeaten start.
Watkins got an even harsher dose of reality on May 4 after his arrest for having a bag of marijuana and two pills for which he didn't have a prescription. Watkins, as a first-time offender, went through an intervention program that wiped away the misdemeanor charges from his record.
What won't ever go away for Watkins was the embarrassment he felt for letting others down.
''I messed up. I got the suspension. I'm fine with it,'' Watkins said.
South Fort Myers High coach Grant Redhead spoke with Watkins about the arrest and believes his former star has learned from it. That was always the way for Watkins, Redhead said.
Watkins was someone who stayed away from the problems in areas around his hometown, Redhead said, preferring to concentrate on improving in school and on the field.
''Sammy seemed to know that other stuff might slow him down,'' Redhead said.
Watkins said he doesn't go out much during the season and spent most of his free time in his dorm room, something he calls ''zoning in for football.''
Watkins hasn't let that focus waver since his suspension was announced three weeks ago, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.
''He likes to practice. He likes to compete. He's physical. It doesn't matter what drill you're going to, his motor is always running,'' Swinney said. ''That's what the great ones are like.''
Even the great ones, though, have bad days.
Swinney recalled a session last week where Watkins dropped three passes, a surprise to teammates and coaches who've watched him catch about everything since he stepped on campus two summers ago.
''I don't get many opportunities to yell at him, so you've got to take advantage,'' Swinney said with a chuckle.
Watkins concentrated this summer on improving technique when the pass isn't coming his way, stepping up his blocking or running full out instead of loping down field. He's also stepped up his leadership, no longer sitting back and letting others speak as he did as a freshman.
''I didn't do it last year because that wasn't my place,'' Watkins said. ''I put the work in, now I can talk up and let the guys feed off of me.''
