Scott's Last Stand
Penn State Depending on Senior Back
By Joe Giardina

Austin Scott came to Penn State with all the hype in the world as the gem of the Nittany Lions' 2003 recruiting class. Record after record had fallen at his feet at Parkland High School as he ran, danced and powered his way to becoming one of the best high school football players in Pennsylvania's rich history.

It wasn't long before he learned that all of that meant nothing in Happy Valley.

"It's normal for any kid coming out of high school with those accolades, going into a big program and starting as a freshman to get an ego," Robert Melosky, Parkland's head coach said. "Any kid would get that."

In his senior year at Parkland, Scott set a state record rushing for 3,853 yards and 53 touchdowns while leading his team to the class AAAA PIAA State Championship. If told back then that Scott wasn't even on the Nittany Lions' roster in 2006, most would have assumed it was because he was already basking in the glories of NFL first round draft pick money, not because he had been red-shirted and delegated to a role on the scout team.

"I'm sure for him individually it's probably been frustrating," Melosky said. "Austin is very competitive. He wants to get on the field and showcase his abilities."

But the only place the 6'2", 222 pound red-shirt senior showed his ability in 2006 was on the practice squad. Three years, a mere 1,021 yards and ten touchdowns later, and his high school glory days seemed as distant as visions of JoePa in glasses less than an inch thick. But Scott is a firm believer that it isn't how you start your career that defines you, but how you finish it.

"It's definitely been a great learning experience," Scott said of being red-shirted last season. "Sometimes good things, you've got to wait for. It just hasn't always come right away. But persistence, hard work, dedication, it has to pay off."

The hard work Scott put in last season was more than just between the hash marks. With Hunt graduating, Scott knew that when 2007 came along, he would finally be the Nittany Lions' go to guy. He also knew that meant he would have to lead by example.

"That's one of the aspects that I wanted to touch on when I was back down there with the walk-on's and all the guys on the scout team," Scott said. "They would see me, they would know they worked out with me and they would be able to relate with me. They would follow and everybody would benefit."

It isn't easy for a blue chip recruit to take a demotion and play along side walk-ons, but that is precisely what Scott did. He played the role of Rudy Ruettiger, and he, along with the coaching staff, believes he played it well.

But that wasn't why he signed on the dotted line to attend Penn State. He wanted to be the workhorse, and finally, this season, he will get his chance.

"I think all his frustration will go away this year as long as he gets an opportunity to show what he can do," Melosky said. "The coaches up there making the decisions need to give him the opportunity, I think he is deserving of it. I think he has worked hard for it."

But most people believe the only person standing in Austin Scott's way, is Austin Scott. For one reason or another, he has yet to live up to his hefty expectations. The coaching staff thinks he might finally be primed to do that now.

"He's older. He knows a little more about what the game is about," Coach Joe Paterno said. "He's grown up. He's no 18 year old kid anymore, he's 22."

An older, more mature Scott is exactly what Paterno has been waiting for. After leading the Nittany Lions with 436 yards rushing his freshman year, he was set to blow up for his sophomore season. But after reportedly arriving late to one team meeting, and completely missing another one, Scott quickly found himself in JoePa's dog house. He has been trying to work his way out ever since.

Now Scott finds himself in a similar situation that Larry Johnson was in entering his senior year. Often criticized for being immature and not a team player, Johnson exploded in 2002, rushing for 2,015 yards and 20 touchdowns on his way to finishing third in the Heisman Trophy ballot. His teammates hope that Scott can follow in those footsteps.

"He's a tough, hard-nosed runner and I think he's going to be able to get the job done," senior quarterback Anthony Morelli said. "I think he's going to fit in well."

That is, as long as he can stay healthy. Injuries have played a part in his lack of production as well. A knee injury, a broken ankle, mono - all have held him out of practice. While Coach Paterno has praised him for his maturity and hard work this past off season, he has called him out when it comes to his mental toughness.

"He has had a tendency to let nicks and bruises bother him a little bit with an ankle here and a pulled muscle there," Paterno said. "Some of the really good backs that we have had and the ones that I see doing really well are durable. He has to be able to go out there everyday and get the job done and practice a little."

While Scott's career at Penn State has been a let down so far, he doesn't let it affect the way he will prepare for his senior year and his first chance to be the full-time starter. He will finally have an opportunity to flash the brilliance that allowed him to rush for 251 yards and five touchdowns against Woodland Hills in the 2003 state championship game. He will have a chance to show that just like in the 2006 Orange Bowl when he filled in for an injured Hunt and ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns, that he can be counted on when needed.

"If anything has gone on throughout this experience, it has humbled him a lot," Melosky said. "The frustrations of not being on the field, playing the scout team last year, it's humbled him. He's a different player."

Scott doesn't worry about his past anymore. He doesn't have time to. All he can do now is look forward to his final year in blue and white.

"I don't have anything to prove," Scott said. "I'm going out every game, taking every game one at a time. We're trying to get a national championship. We want to prove that our senior class has smaller numbers but we can definitely pack a punch and come back and bring back a National Championship to Penn State."

Joe Giardina is a staff writer for PSR.