Darrell Scott (American football)
Encyclopedia
Darrell Scott is an American football
running back
. He currently attends the University of South Florida
, where he redshirted
the 2010 college football season after having transferred from the University of Colorado
. Scott attended St. Bonaventure High School
in Ventura, California
. Scott was considered the #1 running back of the 2008 high school class by Rivals.com
and has drawn comparisons to LaDainian Tomlinson
.
and spent parts of his childhood in Texas
, before his family eventually moved to California
. He enrolled at public Moorpark High School
, where he had an outstanding football
career, helping his team to reach the section championship game consecutive years in 2005 and 2006. In his junior year, Scott rushed for 3,194 yards on 337 carries. He also scored 45 touchdown
s.
In order to face tougher competition in his senior year, Scott sought to transfer to a private school
. His mother and stepfather reportedly “shopped their kid around”, inquiring several Los Angeles
area high schools with elite football programs—among them Hart and Oaks Christian
—about an enrollment, which caused some friction among Ventura County
coaches. Scott eventually ended up at St. Bonaventure High School
, where he rushed for 2,433 yards and 34 touchdowns. He helped St. Bonaventure complete a 14-1 season by winning the CIF Southern Section
Northern Division title and capturing the Division III state championship. Following his high school career, Scott played in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
.
offers by more than 40 schools, and eventually narrowed his choices to Colorado
, Texas
, Florida
and Louisiana State
. Colorado was widely believed to be the frontrunner, since his uncle, Josh Smith, was playing wide receiver
for the Colorado Buffaloes
before deciding to leave the program. However, with Jamaal Charles
leaving for the 2008 NFL Draft
, Scott instantly increased his interest in the Texas Longhorns. Scott then gave Texas a private commitment, which changed after Texas running backs coach, Ken Rucker, became the team’s director of high school relations and player development. He announced his decision to attend Colorado during a news conference at the ESPN Zone
in Anaheim
on National Signing Day
. His decision was carried live on ESPNU
. Scott is the highest rated football recruit to attend Colorado since Marcus Houston
of Thomas Jefferson High School
in Denver
came to Boulder
as part of the 2000 class.
as a true freshman. Phil Steele's College Football, based on his prep accomplishments, selected him to its preseason second-team All-Big 12 squad, while the Sporting News selected him as the Big 12’s top impact freshman and Lindy’s Big 12 Football tabbed him as the Offensive Newcomer of the Year in the conference.
In his first game for the Buffaloes, Scott rushed for 54 yards on 11 carries and scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard jump with 2:14 left in the game. He finished his freshman season with 343 rushing yards off of 87 carries.
After drawing only one running play in Colorado's 2009 season opening loss to Colorado State, Scott told the The Denver Post
that he wanted more carries.
On November 3, 2009, Scott announced his intention to transfer to UCLA
, because of his lack of playing time at Colorado. His uncle Josh Smith left Colorado for UCLA before the summer of 2009. Further, the Los Angeles Times
cited unnamed sources within the Bruins’ program that UCLA was not interested in landing Scott, since they already had five tailbacks, and a commitment from former four-star recruit Malcolm Jones.
Scott paid an official visit to the University of Cincinnati
on March 11–12, 2010. On June 22, 2010, he decided to transfer to the University of South Florida, where he will have two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2010 season as a transfer.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. He currently attends the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
, where he redshirted
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
the 2010 college football season after having transferred from the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
. Scott attended St. Bonaventure High School
St. Bonaventure High School
St. Bonaventure High School is a private, Catholic, co-educational secondary school in Ventura, California. It is owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The school is named in honor of Bonaventure, the Patron of the Mission San Buenaventura and the City of Ventura.-Athletics:St....
in Ventura, California
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
. Scott was considered the #1 running back of the 2008 high school class by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
and has drawn comparisons to LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tramayne Tomlinson is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian.Tomlinson, often referred to by his initials, L...
.
High school career
Scott was born in Tallahassee, FloridaTallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
and spent parts of his childhood in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, before his family eventually moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He enrolled at public Moorpark High School
Moorpark High School
Moorpark High School, located in Moorpark, California, is a public high school in the Moorpark Unified School District and currently has an enrollment of 2,478 students.-History:...
, where he had an outstanding football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
career, helping his team to reach the section championship game consecutive years in 2005 and 2006. In his junior year, Scott rushed for 3,194 yards on 337 carries. He also scored 45 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s.
In order to face tougher competition in his senior year, Scott sought to transfer to a private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
. His mother and stepfather reportedly “shopped their kid around”, inquiring several Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area high schools with elite football programs—among them Hart and Oaks Christian
Oaks Christian High School
Oaks Christian High School is a private non-denominational Christian college-preparatory school located on in Westlake Village, California. Oaks Christian is one of several high schools located within the city limits of Westlake Village. The school colors are Cardinal Red and Vegas Gold and the...
—about an enrollment, which caused some friction among Ventura County
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
coaches. Scott eventually ended up at St. Bonaventure High School
St. Bonaventure High School
St. Bonaventure High School is a private, Catholic, co-educational secondary school in Ventura, California. It is owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The school is named in honor of Bonaventure, the Patron of the Mission San Buenaventura and the City of Ventura.-Athletics:St....
, where he rushed for 2,433 yards and 34 touchdowns. He helped St. Bonaventure complete a 14-1 season by winning the CIF Southern Section
CIF Southern Section
C.I.F. Southern Section is the largest of the ten sections that comprise the California Interscholastic Federation . Its membership includes most public and private high schools in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Mono and Inyo counties, as...
Northern Division title and capturing the Division III state championship. Following his high school career, Scott played in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
.
Recruiting
Scott received scholarshipScholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
offers by more than 40 schools, and eventually narrowed his choices to Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
and Louisiana State
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. Colorado was widely believed to be the frontrunner, since his uncle, Josh Smith, was playing wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado Buffaloes
The University of Colorado Boulder sponsors 16 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's team are called the Buffaloes or Golden Buffaloes . "Lady Buffs" referred to the women's teams beginning in the 1970s, but was officially dropped in 1993...
before deciding to leave the program. However, with Jamaal Charles
Jamaal Charles
Jamaal RaShaad Jones Charles is an American football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
leaving for the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
, Scott instantly increased his interest in the Texas Longhorns. Scott then gave Texas a private commitment, which changed after Texas running backs coach, Ken Rucker, became the team’s director of high school relations and player development. He announced his decision to attend Colorado during a news conference at the ESPN Zone
ESPN Zone
ESPN Zone is a Southern California-based chain of two sports-themed restaurants that include arcades, TV studios, and radio studios that are currently franchised, but formally owned by the American cable network ESPN. The first ESPN Zone opened in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 11, 1998, in the Power...
in Anaheim
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
on National Signing Day
National Signing Day
National Signing Day most commonly refers to a day in February, usually on the first Wednesday of that month, which is the first day that a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college football with a school that is a member of the NCAA, the main governing body for...
. His decision was carried live on ESPNU
ESPNU
ESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced...
. Scott is the highest rated football recruit to attend Colorado since Marcus Houston
Marcus Houston
Marcus Houston is a former American football player. He was a highly touted running back for the University of Colorado at Boulder in the early 2000s....
of Thomas Jefferson High School
Thomas Jefferson High School (Denver, Colorado)
Thomas Jefferson High School, not to be confused with the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, is a secondary school located in the Southmoor Park neighborhood, on the southeast side of Denver, Colorado. Thomas Jefferson High School is operated under the Denver Public School...
in Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
came to Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
as part of the 2000 class.
College career
Scott played at tailback for the 2008 Colorado Buffaloes2008 Colorado Buffaloes football team
The 2008 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Dan Hawkins and played their home games in Folsom Field.-Pre-season:...
as a true freshman. Phil Steele's College Football, based on his prep accomplishments, selected him to its preseason second-team All-Big 12 squad, while the Sporting News selected him as the Big 12’s top impact freshman and Lindy’s Big 12 Football tabbed him as the Offensive Newcomer of the Year in the conference.
In his first game for the Buffaloes, Scott rushed for 54 yards on 11 carries and scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard jump with 2:14 left in the game. He finished his freshman season with 343 rushing yards off of 87 carries.
After drawing only one running play in Colorado's 2009 season opening loss to Colorado State, Scott told the The Denver Post
The Denver Post
-Ownership:The Post is the flagship newspaper of MediaNews Group Inc., founded in 1983 by William Dean Singleton and Richard Scudder. MediaNews is today one of the nation's largest newspaper chains, publisher of 61 daily newspapers and more than 120 non-daily publications in 13 states. MediaNews...
that he wanted more carries.
On November 3, 2009, Scott announced his intention to transfer to UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, because of his lack of playing time at Colorado. His uncle Josh Smith left Colorado for UCLA before the summer of 2009. Further, the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
cited unnamed sources within the Bruins’ program that UCLA was not interested in landing Scott, since they already had five tailbacks, and a commitment from former four-star recruit Malcolm Jones.
Scott paid an official visit to the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
on March 11–12, 2010. On June 22, 2010, he decided to transfer to the University of South Florida, where he will have two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2010 season as a transfer.