The final outcome was all but assured, with Ohio State holding a comfortable 24-6 lead, when Jayden Fielding booted his final kickoff into the air at Husky Stadium. Near his own end zone, Washington’s Adam Mohammad accelerated, headed upfield and looked for a seam.
Before he could get there, he was greeted by Aaron Scott, all 6-foot, 195 pounds of him. The Ohio State cornerback had outraced the rest of his team’s kickoff coverage past the 30-yard line, and this time it resulted in a violent collision at around the 12-yard line. As Mohammad picked himself back up, Scott and his teammates celebrated.
Scott didn’t come to Ohio State to play special teams, but like many players before him, the Springfield, Ohio, native is hoping to use the impact he’s making there to earn a greater role on the team.
Indeed, at his weekly press conference coach Ryan Day singled out Scott’s stop and said he’s “going to start playing more football around here.”
Day also pointed out that Scott had been the first Ohio State player to get to the 30-yard line on 13 consecutive kickoffs.
“It felt great,” Scott said. “Coach Day, he’s big on special teams and doing the right thing. I feel like that’s how our culture is. Every play matters, and I took that to the game and was like, if I get a chance to make a play, I’m going to make it.
“I’m trying to get on the field. I’m just ready to ball.”
Scott has appeared in three games this season and has two tackles and one pass breakup. Both tackles came in the Sept. 27 win against the Huskies, and both came while covering kickoffs.
“I feel like really just showing them that I’m ready, that I’m here and I’m doing whatever I can,” Scott said. “I’m trying to be the first one down, make every tackle. This coming week, I’m going to try to be the first one down again, try to make the tackle again and just keep going.”
Scott said he’s looked to veterans like Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Matthews Jr. for inspiration after both were able to turn their opportunities on special teams into playing time in the secondary.
Igbinosun is tied for the team lead with 19 tackles this year while Matthews has eight. If Scott is able to climb the depth chart and carve out a role there this year, he said he knows what he would try to do.
“I feel like, just like the older guys, bring energy, get the crowd on their feet and turn the ‘Shoe up every chance I can,” he said.
Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State’s Aaron Scott hoping to turn special teams plays into secondary time
Reporting by Adam Jardy, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
