Da'Rel Scott (born May 26, 1988) is a former
American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
running back
A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback to rush the ball, to line up as a receiver to catch the ball,
and block. Ther ...
. He was selected in the seventh round of the
2011 NFL Draft by the
New York Giants. He played
college football for the
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the University System of M ...
, where he was a
starting running back
A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback to rush the ball, to line up as a receiver to catch the ball,
and block. Ther ...
. During the
2008 season, he was the second-leading rusher in the
Atlantic Coast Conference, behind
Jonathan Dwyer
Jonathan Avery Dwyer (born July 26, 1989) is a former American football running back . He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Arizona Cardinals. He played college footba ...
of
Georgia Tech
The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as Georgia Tech or, in the state of Georgia, as Tech or The Institute, is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1885, it is part of ...
.
Scott played
interscholastic football as a
running back
A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback to rush the ball, to line up as a receiver to catch the ball,
and block. Ther ...
and
free safety at
Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School
Plymouth Whitemarsh High School is a public high school in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, US. It is part of the Colonial School District.
Plymouth Whitemarsh is a public high school in the Philadelphia region, and is accredited by the Middle ...
. He was moderately recruited, but
Scout.com
Scout Media is an integrated sports publishing company that produces Internet content covering hundreds of professional and college teams across America. The company was founded in 2001 and was acquired by Fox Sports in 2005. In 2013, Fox Sports ...
thought he was more suited to the position of
wide receiver or
cornerback
A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover Wide receiver, receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such Play from scrimmage, offensive running plays as sweep ...
at the
intercollegiate level. In
2006, he enrolled at the University of Maryland, where he was moved to wide receiver, but he spent the entire season on
redshirt
Redshirt, Red Shirt, or Redshirts may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Red Shirts'' (film), a 1952 film about Anita Garibaldi by Franco Rossi
* Redshirt (stock character), originally derived from ''Star Trek'', a stock character who dies soon after ...
status.
The following season, he saw limited action as a reserve running back behind starters
Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore. He also played on
special teams
In American football, the specific role that a player takes on the field is referred to as their "position". Under the modern rules of American football, both teams are allowed 11 players on the field at one time and have "unlimited free substitu ...
as a
kickoff returner
A return specialist or kick returner is a player on the special teams unit of a gridiron football team who specializes in returning punts and kickoffs. There are few players who are exclusively return specialists; most also play another positio ...
, which was the coaching staff's attempt to get him on the field in some capacity because of his speed (4.31 seconds in the
40-yard dash
The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed and acceleration of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time can have a h ...
and sub 10.5 seconds in the
100 meters
The 100 metres, or 100-meter dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, the dash is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contes ...
)
In
2008
File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
, Scott took over as Maryland's starting running back and spent much of the season as the leading
rusher in the
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He was eventually surpassed by Dwyer, although both players were named to the All-ACC first-team at the season's end. Scott also became the
2008 Humanitarian Bowl
The 2008 Humanitarian Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Nevada Wolf Pack on December 30, 2008. It was the two teams' first meeting. The game featured two conference tie-ins: the University of ...
most valuable player when he broke the University of Maryland bowl game rushing record, and he finished the season with 1,133 rushing yards, the seventh Terrapin player to surpass a thousand yards in a single season.
Early life
Scott was born on May 26, 1988 in
Conshohocken, Pennsylvania to Gloria and Lee Scott Sr. He has two older brothers, Lee Scott Jr., who played football as a
defensive back at
La Salle, and James, who ran track at
Saint Joseph's.
When Da'Rel Scott was eight years old, his parents had a falling out, which prompted his father to leave the family. Thereafter, Lee Scott Sr. was no longer involved in raising his sons and would often miss scheduled visits.
Da'Rel Scott said, "He just kept letting me down. Just day by day, I was thinking, 'I need a father figure in my life.'" In high school, his attitude changed, and he said, "I don't need him."
Despite the absence of his biological father, Scott grew up with the support of his mother, two brothers Lee and James, cousin Leroy, family friend and youth football coach Mike Shaw, and high school athletic director Charlie Forster.
He attended
Plymouth Whitemarsh High School
Plymouth Whitemarsh High School is a public high school in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, US. It is part of the Colonial School District.
Plymouth Whitemarsh is a public high school in the Philadelphia region, and is accredited by the Middle ...
in
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
Plymouth Meeting is a census-designated place (CDP) that straddles Plymouth and Whitemarsh Townships in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The settlement was founded in 1686.
The population of Plymouth Meeting was 6,177 in the 201 ...
, where he was a four-year
letterwinner in
football,
track, and
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
. In football, Scott was a three-year
starter and played as both a
tailback and
free safety. During his senior year, he rushed for 2,523 yards and 38 touchdowns on 232 attempts. As both a junior and senior, he received the Maxwell Award for the conference player of the year. As a senior, ''
The Times Herald
''The Times Herald'' is a daily newspaper in Port Huron, Michigan. The newspaper, owned by Gannett, is the only daily paper serving St. Clair County, Michigan as well as parts of Sanilac and Lapeer counties.
''The Times Herald'' history can ...
'' named him the area player of the year, the
Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. ne ...
named him an all-state player, and he was invited to the
Big 33 Football Classic
The Big 33 Football Classic is an all-star American football game featuring the top high-school football players in Pennsylvania. Played since 1957, the game is often described as the "Super Bowl of High School Football." Contests currently pit ...
all-star game. SuperPrep named him an all-region player.
[Player Bio: Da'Rel Scott](_blank)
, University of Maryland, retrieved November 16, 2008. Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting in the United States. The network was started in 1998 and employs more than 300 personnel.
History
Rivals.com was founded in 1998 by Jim Heckma ...
rated him a four-star prospect and assessed him as the 21st-ranked "athlete" recruit in the nation.
Scout.com assessed him as a three-star prospect, and wrote of him, "This kid can flat out fly. He runs a sub 10.5 100 meters, and a sub 21.0
200 meters. Scott needs to get physically bigger to be a college running back; he may project better as a
wide receiver or
cornerback
A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover Wide receiver, receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such Play from scrimmage, offensive running plays as sweep ...
."
[Da'Rel Scott Profile]
Scout.com, retrieved August 3, 2009. Scott received
scholarship offers from
Georgia Tech
The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as Georgia Tech or, in the state of Georgia, as Tech or The Institute, is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1885, it is part of ...
,
Penn State,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
, and his ultimate choice,
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
.
[Da'Rel Scott]
Rivals.com, retrieved September 6, 2009. In 2006, he enrolled at the University of Maryland, where he studied
kinesiology
Kinesiology () is the scientific study of human body movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, anatomical, biomechanical, pathological, neuropsychological principles and mechanisms of movement. Applications of kinesiology to human healt ...
.
Track and field
Scott was also a standout track athlete. During his junior year, he won the state championship in the
100 meters
The 100 metres, or 100-meter dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, the dash is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contes ...
, with a time of 10.56 seconds. He lettered four years in
track and field
Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping eve ...
. As a senior in 2010, he competed in the
60 meters
60 metres, or 60-meter dash, is a sprint event in track and field. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor venues it is a rare distance, at least for senior ath ...
, posting a personal best of 6.87 seconds.
College career
2006 season
Scott sat out the
2006 season as a
redshirt
Redshirt, Red Shirt, or Redshirts may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Red Shirts'' (film), a 1952 film about Anita Garibaldi by Franco Rossi
* Redshirt (stock character), originally derived from ''Star Trek'', a stock character who dies soon after ...
.
After summer training camp, the coaching staff moved Scott to
wide receiver, a position that lacked
depth, but head coach
Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Harry Friedgen (born April 4, 1947) is a former American football coach. He was most recently the special assistant coach for Rutgers in 2015 after serving as their offensive coordinator in the 2014 season. He was the head coach at the U ...
said that Scott had some difficulty making the adjustment. He was, however, named the offensive
scout team
The following terms are used in American football, both conventional and indoor. Some of these terms are also in use in Canadian football; for a list of terms unique to that code, see ''Glossary of Canadian football''.
0–9
...
player of the week for his performance in the practices before the
Florida State
Florida State University (FSU) is a public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher e ...
game.
2007 season
During 2007 spring practice, Scott was third on the depth chart, but suffered a left knee injury, which forced him to miss most of camp. During the
2007 season, he played in nine games as a reserve tailback behind
Lance Ball and
Keon Lattimore and as a
kickoff returner
A return specialist or kick returner is a player on the special teams unit of a gridiron football team who specializes in returning punts and kickoffs. There are few players who are exclusively return specialists; most also play another positio ...
.
Despite the team's abundance of running backs, Friedgen wanted to utilize Scott in some capacity because of his speed,
which had been recorded at 4.25 seconds in the
40-yard dash
The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed and acceleration of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time can have a h ...
.
Maryland wide receiver
Darrius Heyward-Bey
Darrius Ramar Heyward-Bey (born February 26, 1987) is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at the University of Maryland, and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders seventh overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He has also p ...
said, "On paper it says I'm faster, but Da'Rel, he's just a different type of animal."
Against
Wake Forest, he saw his first action when he
return
Return may refer to:
In business, economics, and finance
* Return on investment (ROI), the financial gain after an expense.
* Rate of return, the financial term for the profit or loss derived from an investment
* Tax return, a blank document or t ...
ed four
kickoffs for 101 yards. Scott's
special teams
In American football, the specific role that a player takes on the field is referred to as their "position". Under the modern rules of American football, both teams are allowed 11 players on the field at one time and have "unlimited free substitu ...
performance in that game sufficiently impressed head coach Friedgen that he said, "I think I've got to try to get him involved within the offense. I think he's a guy that can make some plays for us."
[Marc Carig]
Sputtering Offense Troubles Maryland
''The Washington Post'', p. E04, September 25, 2007. The following week, unranked Maryland upset 10th-ranked
Rutgers
Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's College, and w ...
, and Scott made his first career appearance as a tailback. He had three
carries for 29 yards. After sitting out the
Georgia Tech
The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as Georgia Tech or, in the state of Georgia, as Tech or The Institute, is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1885, it is part of ...
game because of an ankle injury, he returned four kicks for 68 yards against
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
, three for 56 yards against
Clemson, and two for 40 yards against
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
.
Against eighth-ranked
Boston College, Scott caught a short
screen pass
A screen pass is a play in gridiron football consisting of a short pass to a receiver who is protected by a screen of blockers. During a screen pass, a number of things happen concurrently in order to fool the defense into thinking a long pass is b ...
from quarterback
Chris Turner and ran 57 yards for a
touchdown
A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron 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. In Amer ...
.
[Andrew Zuckerman]
Speedster Scott gets his chance
, ''The Diamondback'', November 14, 2007. It was his first career
reception
Reception is a noun form of ''receiving'', or ''to receive'' something, such as art, experience, information, people, products, or vehicles. It may refer to:
Astrology
* Reception (astrology), when a planet is located in a sign ruled by another ...
and first career touchdown.
It was one of just two offensive plays for Scott in that game, and incidentally, he was not intended to be in it.
Friedgen said
When he was in the game, I didn't even know he was in the game. I called a screen pass. I looked up, and it was Da'Rel in there. I figured we were just giving Lance a rest, but I asked unning backs coach PhilZacharias about it Sunday and he started laughing. I said 'Did you put Da'Rel in for that screen pass?' He said, 'Lance's equipment was broken, so he had to go in the game.'
In the loss to
Florida State
Florida State University (FSU) is a public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher e ...
, Scott
rushed twice for 17 yards and returned four kickoffs for 132 yards. On one return, Scott gained 60 yards and nearly broke away for a touchdown,
but Maryland was unable to capitalize on the gain during the subsequent possession. The next week, Maryland secured
bowl eligibility
Bowl eligibility in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level is the standard through which teams become available for selection to participate in postseason bowl games. When a team achieves this state, it is described as "bowl-eligible".
...
by winning its regular season finale against
NC State
North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The university ...
. Scott returned the opening kickoff 36 yards and recorded 89 yards on eight carries to lead the team in rushing. In the
2007 Emerald Bowl
The 2007 Emerald Bowl, one of the 2007–08 NCAA football bowl games, was played on December 27, 2007, at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, with the Atlantic Coast Conference represented by the Maryland Terrapins against the Oregon State Be ...
against
Oregon State
Oregon State University (OSU) is a public land-grant, research university in Corvallis, Oregon. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate-degree programs along with a variety of graduate and doctoral degrees. It has the 10th largest engineering col ...
, Scott had one carry for no gain and returned two kickoffs for 36 yards.
Scott finished the season as the team's all-purpose yardage leader with 84.2 yards per game and kick return leader with 566 yards, which set a school record for a freshman.
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting in the United States. The network was started in 1998 and employs more than 300 personnel.
History
Rivals.com was founded in 1998 by Jim Heckma ...
named him a freshman All-ACC all-purpose player.
2008 season
After the graduation of running backs Ball and Lattimore, Scott competed with
Morgan Green for the
starting position. At the conclusion of spring practice, it appeared they would share the duties, as they had complementary running styles: Scott had breakaway speed, while Green was a hard runner for short-yardage gains.
[Heather Dinich]
Green, Scott hope to form 1-2 punch for Maryland
ESPN, May 1, 2008. However, Green suffered a
quadriceps
The quadriceps femoris muscle (, also called the quadriceps extensor, quadriceps or quads) is a large muscle group that includes the four prevailing muscles on the front of the thigh. It is the sole extensor muscle of the knee, forming a large ...
injury that caused him to fall to the third-string position behind true freshman
Davin Meggett
Davin Meggett (born March 22, 1990) is an American former running back football player. He played college football for the University of Maryland.
He has also been a member of the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys and Washingto ...
.
[Patrick Stevens]
Green's time may finally arrive
''The Washington Times'', April 22, 2009.
During the season, Scott played in 12 of 13 games, including 11 starts, and recorded 1,133 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
In the first game of the
2008 season against
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...
, Scott ran for 197 yards in his first career start, which was enough to place sixteenth on the list for school all-time single-game rushing.
The following week, underdog
Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions of the U.S. state of Tennessee that composes roughly the central portion of the state. It is delineated according to state law as 41 of the state's 95 counties. Middle Tennessee contains the ...
stunned Maryland, 24–14, but Scott set the game-high for rushing with 123 yards.
[Midd Tenn. upsets Maryland 24–14]
''USA Today'', September 6, 2008. He tallied his career-first rushing touchdown with a 63-yard run on the second play of the game.
Scott "dominated early" against 23rd-ranked
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
with 19 carries for 87 yards and two touchdowns, but in the third quarter, he suffered a game-ending shoulder injury. His first-half effort helped Maryland take a quick lead and eventually upset California, 35–27. Scott sat out the next game against
Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan University (EMU, Eastern Michigan or simply Eastern), is a public research university in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School, the school was the fourth normal school established in the United Sta ...
,
but returned for the road game at 20th-ranked
Clemson. Scott made 23 carries but gained only 39 yards, a mark that was surpassed by receiver Heyward-Bey on one
reverse
Reverse or reversing may refer to:
Arts and media
* ''Reverse'' (Eldritch album), 2001
* ''Reverse'' (2009 film), a Polish comedy-drama film
* ''Reverse'' (2019 film), an Iranian crime-drama film
* ''Reverse'' (Morandi album), 2005
* ''Reverse'' ...
that gained 76 yards to spark a second-half comeback.
[Eric Boynton]
Clemson falters in second half, loses to Maryland 20–17
'' Spartanburg Herald-Journal'', September 27, 2008. Head coach Friedgen said
I told Da'Rel he needed to run a little more north–south. Clemson has such good team speed. If you go east–west on them, you're not going to go very far. I thought he had a couple runs when he tried to bounce it outside. Normally, Da'Rel can do that. Not against this team . . . I told him this is a game where three yards is a good running play . . . I don't know if Da'Rel has been in a game like this, playing the whole game that way in a tough environment. He came out in the second half and said 'I'm going to go, coach.' He patted me on the butt. 'Just get me the ball.'[Patrick Stevens]
The young Philadelphian
, ''The Washington Times'', September 27, 2008.
Scott tallied the go-ahead touchdown to complete Maryland's comeback, 20–17.
The following week, Maryland fell to a heavy underdog again when a reeling
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
team engineered a 31–0 shutout. Scott, then the leading rusher in the
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), had 11 carries but was held to just 36 yards. Despite the setback, Scott retained the lead in the ACC with 96.4 rushing yards per game. After a
bye week
In sport, a bye is the preferential status of a player or team that is automatically advanced to the next round of a tournament, without having to play an opponent in an early round.
In knockout (elimination) tournaments they can be granted eit ...
, Maryland shutout 21st-ranked
Wake Forest, 26–0. Scott had 18 carries for a game-high of 73 yards, threw a nine-yard touchdown
pass
Pass, PASS, The Pass or Passed may refer to:
Places
* Pass, County Meath, a townland in Ireland
* Pass, Poland, a village in Poland
* Pass, an alternate term for a number of straits: see List of straits
* Mountain pass, a lower place in a moun ...
, and had three
fumbles. In the first quarter, Scott fumbled at the Wake Forest 25-yard line, but was able to recover the ball. Two plays later, he executed a
halfback option, where he took the
handoff
In cellular telecommunications, handover, or handoff, is the process of transferring an ongoing call or data session from one channel connected to the core network to another channel. In satellite communications it is the process of transf ...
and threw a nine-yard pass to Heyward-Bey for a touchdown. It was Scott's first pass attempt and
completion. Scott fumbled twice more in the first half, and Wake Forest recovered only to miss a
field goal attempt each time. Against
NC State
North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The university ...
, Scott had 23 carries for 163 yards and a 24-yard touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, after the third play of Maryland's game-winning drive, Meggett replaced Scott, who had re-injured his shoulder.
[Late field goal carries Maryland over NC State](_blank)
''The Sporting News'', October 25, 2008. With the sixth win, Maryland attained
bowl eligibility
Bowl eligibility in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level is the standard through which teams become available for selection to participate in postseason bowl games. When a team achieves this state, it is described as "bowl-eligible".
...
.
Scott remained the ACC leading rusher with 102.6 yards per game. He was deemed questionable before the
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech (formally the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and informally VT, or VPI) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. It also has educational facilities in six re ...
game, but did see action. However, the Virginia Tech line held Scott to 11 yards on 10 carries, although he did manage five receptions for 57 yards.
Against 17th-ranked
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
, Scott recorded 129 rushing yards and a three-yard touchdown run. Maryland entered its penultimate regular season game against
Florida State
Florida State University (FSU) is a public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher e ...
still within reach of the
Atlantic Division title, and with it, a berth in the
ACC Championship Game. Florida State, however, dashed Maryland's title hopes in a 37–3 rout in which Scott recorded 82 rushing yards, but fumbled twice. In the fourth quarter, defensive end
Everette Brown
Everette D. Brown (born August 7, 1987) is an American football coach and former linebacker who is currently the assistant linebackers coach for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida St ...
forced Scott to fumble, which was seen as the end to any potential comeback. Against a tough
Boston College line, the Maryland rushing attack faltered, which forced quarterback Chris Turner to resort mostly to the pass. Scott rushed 13 times for a gain of just 19 yards.
In
the postseason, Maryland accepted an invitation to the
Humanitarian Bowl
The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, previously the Humanitarian Bowl (1997–2003, 2007–2010) and the MPC Computers Bowl (2004–2006), is an NCAA-sanctioned post-season college football bowl game that has been played annually since 1997 at Albertson ...
to play the
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) is an NCAA Division I conference. The WAC covers a broad expanse of the western United States with member institutions located in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, and Texas.
Due to mos ...
runner-up,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a state in the Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the 7th-most extensive, ...
. Before the game, however, head coach Ralph Friedgen caught Scott and six other players breaking curfew. Scott declined to comment to the media about why he had missed curfew, and Friedgen said only that Scott had tried to "help somebody and got put in a bad situation."
Friedgen initially intended to send the offenders back to
College Park by bus, but athletic director
convinced him to issue partial-game suspensions instead.
[Chadd Cripe]
Maryland's Scott runs wild in the fourth quarter to lead Terps to H-Bowl title
''Idaho Statesman'', December 31, 2008. Scott was benched until halfway through the third quarter. He said, "I made a bad decision. I felt I had to run with a purpose."
[Eric Prisbell]
''The Washington Post'', p. E01, December 31, 2008. Scott was put into the game on Maryland's third possession of the half but did not receive a carry until the following series. On his first attempt, he ran for 14 yards and then ran 11 yards on his second.
During the next drive, he broke free on a 49-yard touchdown run. On the next possession, Scott rushed on all four plays and gained 66 yards and another touchdown. Maryland won, 42–35, and Scott was named the Terrapins'
most valuable player of the game.
Nevada head coach
Chris Ault
Christopher Thomas Ault (born November 8, 1946) is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served three stints at the head football coach at the University of Nevada, Reno (1976–1992, 1994–1995 and 200 ...
said, "He just ran through us like we weren't there. They ran the weak-side gap, we knew that was one of their base plays, and he did a great job. He's a heck of a back, no question about it. He was breaking tackles, and that's not only a difference-maker but a morale-changer."
He ran for 174 yards, which broke the school record for rushing in a
bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is one of a number of post-season college football games that are primarily played by teams belonging to the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). For most of its history, the Division I Bowl Subdivi ...
previously set by
Lu Gambino in the
1948 Gator Bowl
The 1948 Gator Bowl was the third edition of the Gator Bowl and featured the Maryland Terrapins representing the University of Maryland and the Georgia Bulldogs representing the University of Georgia. It was the first-ever meeting of the two team ...
. Scott also became just the seventh Maryland player to surpass the 1,000-yard single-season rushing benchmark. Earlier in the season, Scott set that mark as one of his goals, and he adorned his room with the statistics of the Terrapins who accomplished that feat in the past, such as Chris Downs in 2002.
Scott spent much of the season as the leading rusher in the ACC, but he was eventually surpassed by
Jonathan Dwyer
Jonathan Avery Dwyer (born July 26, 1989) is a former American football running back . He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Arizona Cardinals. He played college footba ...
of
Georgia Tech
The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as Georgia Tech or, in the state of Georgia, as Tech or The Institute, is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1885, it is part of ...
and finished second in the conference. In early October, Scott was added to the
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the college football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best al ...
watch list.
The Atlantic Coast Conference named Scott to the All-ACC first-team alongside Dwyer.
2009 season
During a practice in April 2009, Scott and cornerback
Nolan Carroll
Nolan Alexander Carroll II (born January 18, 1987) is a former American football cornerback. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Maryland. He has also played for the Phil ...
collided, which injured both players.
[One week, plenty to watch](_blank)
, ''The Washington Times'', April 20, 2009. Scott suffered a
sprained knee which forced him to sit out the Red–White spring game. He entered summer practice at the top of the depth chart, but Davin Meggett's camp performance was impressive enough to earn a share of the number-one position. In its 2009 preseason issue, ''
Phil Steele's
Phil Steele (c. 1960) is an American sportswriter and analyst who focuses exclusively on college and professional football. He is considered a "highly respected prognosticator" within the sports media. His company, Phil Steele Publications, prod ...
'' listed Scott as the 23rd-ranked draft eligible college running back, a preseason first-team All-ACC running back, and one of 19 "darkhorse" contenders for the
Heisman Trophy. ''
Athlon Sports
Parade Media (previously known as AMG/Parade and Athlon Media Group) is a publisher founded in 1967 that is based in Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville's Spencer Hays was its majority stockholder. It was purchased by The Arena Group in 2022 and now ...
'' named him to their preseason All-ACC second-team. Before the season, he was added to the
Doak Walker Award
Since 1990 the Doak Walker Award honors the top running back in college football in the United States. It is named in honor of Doak Walker, a former running back who played for the SMU Mustangs from 1945 to 1949 and in the National Football Le ...
and
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the college football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best al ...
watch lists.
In the season opener at 12th-ranked
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
, Scott recorded 13 carries for 90 yards. He scored the Terrapins' only touchdown on a 39-yard rush in the third quarter of the 52–13 rout, Maryland's worst opening loss since 1892. The following week, Scott had 17 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown in an overtime win against
James Madison
James Madison Jr. (March 16, 1751June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father. He served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for h ...
. He recorded a 48-yard touchdown run against
Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions of the U.S. state of Tennessee that composes roughly the central portion of the state. It is delineated according to state law as 41 of the state's 95 counties. Middle Tennessee contains the ...
, but also two fumbles in the first quarter. Scott finished the game with 13 attempts for 117 yards., but coach Friedgen relied mostly on Meggett after the second turnover. Scott suffered a broken wrist against
Clemson, a game that also saw Maryland left tackle
Bruce Campbell injured. He sat out the next five games, before he returned in the penultimate game against
Florida State
Florida State University (FSU) is a public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher e ...
, in which he ran 83 yards on 19 attempts and also had two receptions for 21 yards. The performance prompted
Scout.com
Scout Media is an integrated sports publishing company that produces Internet content covering hundreds of professional and college teams across America. The company was founded in 2001 and was acquired by Fox Sports in 2005. In 2013, Fox Sports ...
to note, "It's almost like this stud running back never missed a game for the Terps … it is impressive to see the junior hard at work and making up for lost time." In the season finale against
Boston College, Maryland opened the game with Scott attempting a pass to wide receiver
Torrey Smith
Torrey may refer to:
* Torrey (name), including a list of people with the name
* Torrey, Utah
* Torrey, New York
See also
* , a supertanker wrecked off Cornwall in 1967
* Torrey pine
* Torrey Pines High School
* Torrey Pines Golf Course
* Torre ...
on a
halfback option play The halfback option play is an unorthodox play in American and Canadian football. It resembles a normal running play, but the running back has the option to throw a pass to another eligible receiver before crossing the line of scrimmage.
The key t ...
; it fell incomplete but drew a defensive
pass interference
In American and Canadian gridiron football, pass interference (PI) is a foul that occurs when a player interferes with an eligible receiver's ability to make a fair attempt to catch a forward pass. Pass interference may include tripping, pushing, ...
call. Scott rushed for 45 yards and a touchdown on 11 attempts, and caught three passes for 20 yards.
[Da'Rel Scott Stats – Maryland]
ESPN, retrieved October 3, 2011.
2010 season
In the winter, Scott competed on the indoor track team and ran a
60-yard dash
6 (six) is the natural number following 5 and preceding 7. It is a composite number and the smallest perfect number.
In mathematics
Six is the smallest positive integer which is neither a square number nor a prime number; it is the second small ...
in 6.87 seconds,
and he claimed to have regained the speed he had in high school.
During spring football camp, he recorded the fastest 40-yard dash time among the running backs at 4.33 seconds.
[Jeff Barker]
Scott speeding toward final season with Terps; Fifth-year senior running back is healthy and faster than ever
, ''The Baltimore Sun'', August 11, 2010. Head coach
Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Harry Friedgen (born April 4, 1947) is a former American football coach. He was most recently the special assistant coach for Rutgers in 2015 after serving as their offensive coordinator in the 2014 season. He was the head coach at the U ...
praised Scott for the strength and size he added in the offseason, and offensive coordinator
James Franklin described Scott as a "complete back".
[Eric Prisbell]
Maryland's offense shows a new side
''The Washington Post'', August 16, 2010. Before the season, Scott was added to the
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the college football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best al ...
and
Doak Walker Award
Since 1990 the Doak Walker Award honors the top running back in college football in the United States. It is named in honor of Doak Walker, a former running back who played for the SMU Mustangs from 1945 to 1949 and in the National Football Le ...
watch lists.
Maryland entered the
2010 season with Scott and
Meggett sharing time as the number-one running back. Head coach Friedgen said, "At this point in time, I would say Scott and Meggett are 1A and 1B."
In the
season opener against
Navy
A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It in ...
, Scott recorded 58 yards on ten carries, which included five touches on the opening drive for 36 yards and a five-yard touchdown run.
[Terps' multiple-choice answer; Improved Meggett, healthy Scott saw near-equal time in productive outings vs. Navy]
, ''The Diamondback'', September 9, 2010. The following week against
Division I FCS , Scott, Meggett, and redshirt freshman running back D. J. Adams all averaged over five yards per carry in the 62–3 rout. Scott amassed eight carries for 42 yards and three receptions for 31 yards.
Maryland's rushing attack struggled in the 31–17 loss to
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the B ...
, and Scott had four carries for six yards and three catches for 26 yards.
Against
Florida International, he gained 103 yards and scored two touchdowns on 15 carries. Scott scored on a 56-yard run and a nine-yard run in which he broke three arm tackles.
Duke
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are rank ...
held Scott to 26 yards in the first half, but in the third quarter, he caught a short pass from quarterback Danny O'Brien and ran down the sideline for a 71-yard touchdown.
[Logan's punt return TD sparks Terps to 21–16 comeback win over Duke; 84-yard play key to rally from 9–0 hole]
''The Baltimore Sun'', October 3, 2010. O'Brien said he repeatedly checked down through his available receivers and Scott was his final option.
Scott finished with 14 carries for 50 yards.
, University of Maryland, retrieved October 3, 2010.
At
Clemson, Scott threw a four-yard touchdown pass to quarterback
Danny O'Brien on a
trick play
A trick play, also known as a gadget play, gimmick play or trickeration, is a play in gridiron football that uses deception and unorthodox tactics to fool the opposing team. A trick play is often risky, offering the potential for a large gain or ...
for Maryland's only score in a 31–7 loss. He had four rushing attempts for 18 yards.
During that game, Scott became the tenth player in school history to amass 3,000 all-purpose yards. At
Boston College, Scott rushed nine times for 19 yards and caught one pass for four yards.
He also filled in for injured kickoff returner
Torrey Smith
Torrey may refer to:
* Torrey (name), including a list of people with the name
* Torrey, Utah
* Torrey, New York
See also
* , a supertanker wrecked off Cornwall in 1967
* Torrey pine
* Torrey Pines High School
* Torrey Pines Golf Course
* Torre ...
and had one return for 25 yards. Against
Wake Forest, he had eleven carries for 50 yards and one reception for ten yards.
At
Miami
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a coastal metropolis and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at ...
, Scott rushed nine times for 30 yards and had a 12-yard reception.
At
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
, he carried the ball 11 times for 55 yards and had two catches for eight yards including a two-yard reception for a touchdown.
Against 25th-ranked
Florida State
Florida State University (FSU) is a public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher e ...
, Scott rushed ten times for 87 yards and caught two passes for eight yards.
Scott was held to negative ten rushing yards on four touches by 23rd-ranked
North Carolina State
North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The unive ...
in his final home game on Senior Night, but Maryland still won, 38–31.
In the
Military Bowl
The Military Bowl is a post-season National Collegiate Athletic Association-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that has been played annually each December in the Washington metropolitan area since 2008. The game was originally held a ...
against
East Carolina
East Carolina University (ECU) is a public research university in Greenville, North Carolina. It is the fourth largest university in North Carolina.
Founded on March 8, 1907, as a teacher training school, East Carolina has grown from its orig ...
, Scott rushed for a career-high 200 yards on 13 carries,
including two touchdowns on 61- and 91-yard runs, and was named the game's Most Valuable Player. He broke the school record for rushing in a bowl game that he previously set in 2008. His performance was described as "utterly electrifying", and left his "stock among draft-eligible running backs soaring with NFL scouts". His 15.4 yards per carry was the best single-game performance in school history.
Scott ended the 2010 season with 708 rushing yards on 122 attempts and five touchdowns.
He finished his college career with 2,401 rushing yards on 430 attempts and 17 touchdowns, and 3,509 all-purpose yards.
Scott ranked seventh in school history in career rushing yards and second in career yards per carry with an average of 5.58.
[Rushing Records]
, University of Maryland, retrieved October 1, 2011.
Scott was invited to play in the
East–West Shrine Game on January 22, 2011 in
Orlando
Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures re ...
. He also participated in the
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football all-star game played annually in late January or early February in Mobile, Alabama, which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those players who have completed their college eligibility. Pr ...
, and ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' praised him for his practice leading up to the game. In the Senior Bowl, Scott recorded five carries for 15 yards, including a touchdown on a one-yard run.
College statistics
Professional career
2011 NFL Combine
New York Giants
The
New York Giants selected Scott with the 221st overall pick in the
2011 NFL Draft. Giants general manager
Jerry Reese
Jerry Reese (born July 22, 1963) is a former American football executive, player, and coach. He was a member of the New York Giants for 23 years, serving as their General manager (American football), general manager from 2007 to 2017 where he wo ...
said, "We took a flyer on the guy because he is big and fast… We hope this guy develops into a
Willie Parker
William Everett Parker Jr. (born November 11, 1980) is an American former football running back who played for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for North Carolina, he ...
, one of those kinds of things."
[Giants feel they landed two of top 15 in NFL Draft]
April 30, 2011. At the NFL Combine, Scott ran the
40-yard dash
The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed and acceleration of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time can have a h ...
in 4.34 seconds, the fastest time recorded by any of the participating running backs.
Scott secured a spot on the active roster behind
Ahmad Bradshaw
Ahmad Bradshaw (born March 19, 1986) is a former American football running back. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He played college football at Marshall. He is a two-time Super Bowl champio ...
and
Brandon Jacobs
Brandon Christopher Jacobs (born July 6, 1982) is a former American football running back, who spent the majority of his career with the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Coffeyville, Auburn, ...
with a strong preseason performance. In the game against the
Chicago Bears, he had one carry for a 97-yard touchdown. Against the
New England Patriots, Scott took a snap on a
fake punt
A fake punt is a trick play in gridiron football. It involves a running or passing play run out of a punt formation.Examples include:
A fake punt can take a number of different forms. The punter may simply take the snap and look to throw a f ...
, which he ran 65 yards for a touchdown. He made his regular season debut in Week 1 against the
Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) N ...
, but recorded no statistics. Scott only recorded five carries for 15 yards in 11 games played. He was a member of the Super Bowl XLVI champion team that defeated the New England Patriots by a score of 21–17.
On October 20, 2012, Scott was placed on season-ending injured reserve due to a knee injury.
On October 1, 2013, the Giants waived him after his first career start in the Week 4 loss against the
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
The ...
. On October 8, 2013, the Giants re-signed Scott after running back
David Wilson was out with a neck injury. On October 15, 2013, the Giants waived him again after he injured his hamstring in the Week 6 loss against the
Chicago Bears.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Scott signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in April 2015. He was released by the Blue Bombers on January 6, 2016.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Scott was signed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on May 28, 2016.
Personal life
Scott motivates himself for games by channeling the anger at his father's abandonment. He said, "I am always going to have anger because of how he did me. It is always going to be there. It is not going away. No way at all."
[Eric Prisbell]
Not Left Out in the Cold; Terps' Scott Uses Father's Desertion as Motivation to Succeed
''The Washington Post'', September 26, 2008. While basketball player
Michael Jordan was Scott's childhood sports idol, he says Jordan was not the inspiration for his
jersey number
In team sports, the number, often referred to as the uniform number, squad number, jersey number, shirt number, sweater number, or similar (with such naming differences varying by sport and region) is the number worn on a player's uniform, to ...
of 23. Scott chose it as a combination of his older brothers' high school numbers: James wore number 20, and Lee Jr. wore number 3. Scott said, "They were my father."
References
External links
Maryland Terrapins football bioMaryland Terrapins track bio
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, DaRel
1988 births
Living people
African-American players of American football
African-American players of Canadian football
American football running backs
Canadian football running backs
Hamilton Tiger-Cats players
Maryland Terrapins football players
New York Giants players
People from Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Players of American football from Pennsylvania
Sportspeople from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Winnipeg Blue Bombers players
21st-century African-American sportspeople
20th-century African-American people