Scott looking to have big, healthy season

By Pete Mollica

“Last year was a big disappointment for me. I had a great camp and was really looking forward to the season. I got hurt and then frustration set in and I tried to come back too soon and my season was over.”

Jabari Scott

YSU senior tailback

The senior tailback has missed a lot of playing time the past two seasons with injuries.

YOUNGSTOWN — Over the last four seasons, YSU senior Jabari Scott has played a lot of different offensive roles.

He’s still not sure what his next one will be. But whatever it is, he wants to be healthy for it.

The 5-10, 195 pound tailback was recruited out of San Antonio, where he was an all-state selection after rushing for nearly 2,500 yards and 33 touchdowns.

In his first year with the Penguins, Scott was one of seven true freshmen to see action, playing in four games as a reserve tailback with 134 yards on 31 carries and three touchdowns.

The next year, 2006, Scott was redshirted as tailback transfer Marcus Mason took the Penguins to the NCAA Championship Subdivision semifinals.

Scott played in nine games in 2007, starting the first four before injuries sidelined him. He finished with 524 yards on 93 carries and scored five TDs.

Last year, he started the season’s first five games before again going down with injuries. He played only sparingly after that and finished with 403 yards on 55 carries and five touchdowns. He had a season-high 120 yards on 17 carries in the Penguins’ win over North Dakota State.

He played just one quarter against Southern Illinois before getting hurt and played just four offensive snaps over the team’s remaining five games.

“Last year was a big disappointment for me,” Scott said. “I had a great camp and was really looking forward to the season. I got hurt and then frustration set in and I tried to come back too soon and my season was over.”

Scott is one of several returning tailbacks, including three seniors, but he’s still excited about the upcoming season.

“There is really no pressure on anyone in the backfield this spring,” Scott said. “We’re out there pushing each other, but at the same time we’re also helping each other get ready for the season.”

Scott likes the idea of using two or more tailbacks at the same time.

“There’s a big difference this year,” he said. “First of all, everybody is healthy and everybody is working hard and the main thing this spring is just to get everybody ready for the fall camp.”

Scott and seniors Kevin Smith and Dana Brown have all shown big improvement this spring. In the team’s spur of the moment scrimmage last week, they helped the offense win back the red practice jerseys that they have been missing for over a year.

The Penguins will work out this morning before taking Tuesday off. They’ll also practice Wednesday and Thursday morning before holding their first major jersey scrimmage on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.