<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Milan @ Feb 24th ) [snapback]1903119[/snapback]</div>
Quote:
Why will Kinlaw not be the starter next season? He's ahead of Scott on the depth chart.
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austin scott redshirted last year, his 4th year, so that he could start this year after tony hunt left. thats probably why kinlaw is still listed ahead of him on the 2006 season depth chart. see the 2006 orange bowl against florida state for the reason why scott will start next year.
kinlaw has not shown me anything to make me believe he could start.
Who's to say that Scott does come out of Joe Pa's doghouse this year? Maybe he'll **** around in the spring and Kinlaw will go into the year as the starter
By Sam Ross Jr.
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Austin Scott has his fingers crossed, hoping he can avoid injury, win the starting tailback job at Penn State and finally live up to the hype he brought with him from Parkland High School.
It was 2003 when Scott arrived at Penn State, with all the attendant expectation of a runner who had rushed for 3,853 yards and 53 touchdowns in his senior season alone, leading Parkland to Pennsylvania's Quad-A title in 2002.
Instead of Scott, it was Tony Hunt who dominated the past four seasons, leaving as one of the most productive tailbacks in Penn State history.
By contrast, Scott started slowly and was hampered by missed meetings and classes that got him on coach Joe Paterno's wrong side. More recently, Scott has been unable to stay healthy, suffering injuries the past two springs and being hurt again in preseason drills in 2006.
"This spring, I'm definitely going to be cautious," Scott said. "But you can't hold anything back."
Scott can't afford that. His ankle injury last season was something of a blessing, prompting him to agree to a redshirt season and allowing him a chance to compete for playing time with Hunt moved on to a likely pro career.
Scott is battling the equally oft-injured Rodney Kinlaw for the starting job.
"This is a big season for me," said Scott, who is up to 220 pounds on his 6-foot frame.
Paterno, who in the past has been at odds with Scott, agreed with Scott on the point of the player's time running out.
"He's got to do it this year for himself, and I think he will," Paterno said. "He's worked very hard in the winter program, and I think he'll be OK."
By most accounts, Scott was a warrior on the scout team as he redshirted last season. Then, he left the Outback Bowl preparations for what was reported as family problems, raising questions. Both Scott and Paterno said all is fine now.
Scott claims to have found himself last season on that scout team, practicing without any hope of playing in the games.
"I learned a couple of things, and every day it was fun, because I didn't have anybody on my back, and I wasn't competing for a position," he said. "I really had a chance to get back to my roots and figure out what type of running back I was in college and what I had to offer on a college level."
Quarterback Anthony Morelli is an enthusiastic booster.
"I think he's going to be a big-time aspect of this offense," Morelli said. "We lift together ... and we come in here and do our thing together. That's all he talks about, he's waited his turn, and he's real fired up. He's ready to roll."
Scott's career highlight came in the Orange Bowl following the 2005 season, when Hunt injured an ankle. Scott came in during the first quarter and rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns in Penn State's 26-23, triple-overtime win against Florida State.
Based on that, it was thought Scott would challenge Hunt for time, or even be part of a set using both backs, in 2006. Instead, there were more injuries.
Now, Hunt is gone, and Scott must replace him. Where Hunt was a power back and an excellent blocker, Scott is more of a speed back, and his blocking in the past has left the coaches wanting better.
But his promise is enormous based on that stellar high school career.
Scott has grown physically during his college years. He also claims to be wiser.
"It's just focus, determination, dedication, all those things I might not have had when I was a freshman," he said. "I have them now. It's just growing up. Coming through the program, coming through college."
Official 2007 Penn State football thread
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