FEATURED: Vernon Scott
9/11/2019 11:47:00 AM | Football
This feature article originally appeared in the TCU Gameday Program, which is free to all fans at each TCU football home game. Each week, GoFrogs.com will publish the features from the previous edition of the TCU Gameday Program.
By Arden Shirley - TCU Athletics Communications Intern
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Vernon Scott enters his final season with the Horned Frogs as a safety managing high expectations and an opportunity to have his best season to date. Although the pressure that comes along with all the possibilities would shake many, Scott's journey to TCU and his ability to overcome adversity in his time as a Frog have allowed him to attack this challenge head-on.
"My story is different than most, I would say, because a lot of people on the football team have been playing [football] forever, but I came to TCU only playing [football] my junior and senior year [of high school]," Scott said, "At first, I was kind of overwhelmed because you're getting coached the same way regardless of your experience and I only had two years."
Scott played Little League football but turned to basketball and track his freshman year of high school, not returning to football until his junior year. His stepdad encouraged him to pick up the sport again, where he found great success, immediately making varsity and getting looks from colleges around the country. Despite Scott's limited amount of experience, he attended TCU's football camp and received an offer at the beginning of his senior year.
"I got my love back for football. It was really my stepdad. His love for football made me want to play football again, and now I'm at TCU," Scott said.
Scott admits the transition from high school to college wasn't an easy one, with a complex defense to learn and a room full of lifelong football players around him, but recognizes the challenges only made him better.
"It was really worth it. Coach P has pushed me so far. I know I'm mentally ready for the world. Life's hard, so I know I'm ready mentally for the challenges and the adversity that will come," Scott said.
However, Scott's on-field growth was quickly stunted after a major life event, the passing of his stepfather, the spring of Scott's sophomore year, left him questioning his purpose at TCU and as a football player.
"I had told Coach P I needed a break from football because my stepdad had a heart attack and I was just going through a lot. Then right after that, my stepdad had passed. I didn't know what I wanted to do. I didn't know if I wanted to be at TCU anymore. But my mom kept me grounded, and I kept praying about it," Scott said.
Scott knew he had to make a decision, with junior year creeping up and while coping with the loss of his stepdad. With the season on the line, he decided to return to football to honor the man that had encouraged him to play in the first place.
"I feel like I overcame, and I never gave up," Scott said, "Last season was a really good season for me, but it was really hard because my stepdad had passed away and he just wanted to see me on the field."
Scott had his best season last year with two starts, an interception, and a career-high eight tackles, using the passing of his stepdad as motivation to have a great season. But he didn't stop there. Following the completion of his junior year, Scott joined the Athletics Communications Department with Mark Cohen, the Associate Athletics Director for a summer internship. Focusing on what life after football could look like, this position allowed Scott to gain experience in the behind-the-scenes work of football, baseball, and basketball.
"It takes more than I thought to make sure everything is right. And anything can easily have an error," Scott said, "Mark Cohen just gave me the experience. I liked it, I like sports, and being around sports. I don't see myself doing anything else."
With a tumultuous year behind him, and senior year quickly approaching, Scott is setting his goals high, in honor of his stepdad, as he looks to become the best safety in the Big-12 and to contribute to a TCU defense with extremely high expectations.
"I know he would be proud of me, so that's really what pushes me every day, to go hard, and to do it for him," Scott said.
Scott's main goal is to win.
"[The seniors] need to get what we worked for, for four years straight. We came in together; we've been through it all," Scott said, "So why not just finish good, finish strong."
By Arden Shirley - TCU Athletics Communications Intern
---
Vernon Scott enters his final season with the Horned Frogs as a safety managing high expectations and an opportunity to have his best season to date. Although the pressure that comes along with all the possibilities would shake many, Scott's journey to TCU and his ability to overcome adversity in his time as a Frog have allowed him to attack this challenge head-on.
"My story is different than most, I would say, because a lot of people on the football team have been playing [football] forever, but I came to TCU only playing [football] my junior and senior year [of high school]," Scott said, "At first, I was kind of overwhelmed because you're getting coached the same way regardless of your experience and I only had two years."
Scott played Little League football but turned to basketball and track his freshman year of high school, not returning to football until his junior year. His stepdad encouraged him to pick up the sport again, where he found great success, immediately making varsity and getting looks from colleges around the country. Despite Scott's limited amount of experience, he attended TCU's football camp and received an offer at the beginning of his senior year.
"I got my love back for football. It was really my stepdad. His love for football made me want to play football again, and now I'm at TCU," Scott said.
Scott admits the transition from high school to college wasn't an easy one, with a complex defense to learn and a room full of lifelong football players around him, but recognizes the challenges only made him better.
"It was really worth it. Coach P has pushed me so far. I know I'm mentally ready for the world. Life's hard, so I know I'm ready mentally for the challenges and the adversity that will come," Scott said.
However, Scott's on-field growth was quickly stunted after a major life event, the passing of his stepfather, the spring of Scott's sophomore year, left him questioning his purpose at TCU and as a football player.
"I had told Coach P I needed a break from football because my stepdad had a heart attack and I was just going through a lot. Then right after that, my stepdad had passed. I didn't know what I wanted to do. I didn't know if I wanted to be at TCU anymore. But my mom kept me grounded, and I kept praying about it," Scott said.
Scott knew he had to make a decision, with junior year creeping up and while coping with the loss of his stepdad. With the season on the line, he decided to return to football to honor the man that had encouraged him to play in the first place.
"I feel like I overcame, and I never gave up," Scott said, "Last season was a really good season for me, but it was really hard because my stepdad had passed away and he just wanted to see me on the field."
Scott had his best season last year with two starts, an interception, and a career-high eight tackles, using the passing of his stepdad as motivation to have a great season. But he didn't stop there. Following the completion of his junior year, Scott joined the Athletics Communications Department with Mark Cohen, the Associate Athletics Director for a summer internship. Focusing on what life after football could look like, this position allowed Scott to gain experience in the behind-the-scenes work of football, baseball, and basketball.
"It takes more than I thought to make sure everything is right. And anything can easily have an error," Scott said, "Mark Cohen just gave me the experience. I liked it, I like sports, and being around sports. I don't see myself doing anything else."
With a tumultuous year behind him, and senior year quickly approaching, Scott is setting his goals high, in honor of his stepdad, as he looks to become the best safety in the Big-12 and to contribute to a TCU defense with extremely high expectations.
"I know he would be proud of me, so that's really what pushes me every day, to go hard, and to do it for him," Scott said.
Scott's main goal is to win.
"[The seniors] need to get what we worked for, for four years straight. We came in together; we've been through it all," Scott said, "So why not just finish good, finish strong."
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