Soft-spoken Nick Scott leads by example

ALBANY — Quarterback Caleb Edmonds snapped the football and when his wide receiver was blanketed in coverage, he felt safety Nick Scott’s presence.

The lightning fast defender wearing the blue No. 1 jersey came at Edmonds as fast as he could during a preseason practice at Albany State.

“Everybody has to watch out for where No. 1 is,” Edmonds said. “If you are not on your Ps and Qs, No. 1 … he’s going to come and he’s going to hit you pretty hard.

“I know he spared me a couple of times in camp. He could have taken some heads off, but for me and some receivers, he spared us.”

However, for most of Albany State’s opponents, Scott hasn’t shown any mercy. The 6-foot, 205-pound junior from Ellabelle on the Southeast Georgia coast is known as a ferocious defender and tackles hard. So far this season, the preseason SIAC all-conference selection has recorded 1 1/2 tackles for loss and registered three pass break-ups.

Last year, he had 57 tackles (49 solos), a fumble recovery and two interceptions and was a member of the all-conference team.

Scott wore No. 15 as a freshman, then No. 5 as a sophomore before changing to No. 1 to start his junior season. He said he learned to defend passes during his days of playing recreation football in Bryan County.

“I played on the best Little League team in the city,” he said. “That just helped me learn football. I used to play offense, so I know how to go after the ball and attack the ball whenever it comes my way.”

The three-year starter doesn’t say much off the field, preferring to fade into oblivion during school.

But when the game begins, Scott doesn’t mind the spotlight.

“I don’t like to have any plays made on me,” he said. “I like to make all the plays, so I feel like when somebody makes a play on me, I’m not doing my job.”

Albany State coach Dan Land recognizes the play of his standout junior. Scott is one of the team captains and while Land said Scott isn’t loud and boisterous, his play speaks volumes.

Scott makes all the calls in the secondary.

“Nick is that perfect guy,” Land said. “He’s one of those kinds of guys that coach (Anthony) Kelly says all the time, ‘I’d like that guy right there to marry my daughter.’ He’s that kind of guy.

“He’s very humble, very respectful, he goes to class and does all the things he needs to do academic-wise. He doesn’t speak like a lot of guys, he tries to lead by his play on the field. He’s not one of the chatty guys, but he’s one of the solid leaders.”

Edmonds said throwing the ball against Scott every day in practice makes the Rams a better football team. He said the junior is the the best safety in the nation.

He knows it’s a good omen when you see Albany State’s No. 1 defending a wide receiver.

“It’s most likely not going to be a catch,” Edmonds said.

Which is just fine with the team.