Nick Scott could be much more than just a safety with the Rams...

Nick Scott could be much more than just a safety with the Rams

Cameron DaSilva58 minutes ago

[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Expectations for seventh-round picks are always tempered. A good chunk of them don’t even make the 53-man roster, while others go on to become great pros down the road.

The Los Angeles Rams hope to have uncovered a diamond in the rough with Nick Scott, who they drafted 243rd overall in the seventh round. The former Penn State safety is listed as exactly that – a safety – but he can be so much more than a back-end defender for the Rams.

His versatility and experience at multiple positions should provide great value for L.A., potentially in all three phases of the game.

Scott enrolled at Penn State as a running back and played that position as a freshman in 2015. His role was limited to just 30 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown, but he also contributed on special teams. That year, Scott returned 13 kicks for 310 yards, ranking fifth in the Big Ten in kick return average (23.8).

As a sophomore, Scott switched to defense and played cornerback. He returned six kickoffs for 138 yards, but his playing time was minimal defensively. He played eight games, made eight tackles and broke up one pass, but the coaches decided to change his position for a third time the following year.

Scott found a home at safety in 2017 and became a full-time starter last season, picking off three passes, recording 65 tackles and recovering a fumble as a senior. While he was no longer a return specialist, he was a special teams ace – so much so that he became one of Jon Fassel’s favorite special teams players he’s ever studied.

“I know Nick from Penn State was one of his favorite ever special teams player that he’s ever graded. He’s probably been our number one priority since ‘Bones’ brought the POA to me,” Les Snead said Saturday.

So this brings us to the important question surrounding Scott: Where will he play with the Rams? The obvious choice is safety, but he can be valuable at other positions, too. At his pro day, Scott ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and jumped 41 inches in the vert. There’s no question about his athleticism, which makes him a fun player to study.

He can return kickoffs for the Rams and likely be very good at it. JoJo Natson and Blake Countess have hardly locked down those jobs for 2019, leaving the door open for someone like Scott or Darrell Henderson to swoop in.

Scott’s experience at cornerback, albeit limited, also presents the opportunity that he can line up there, too. Countess can play safety and cornerback, and if Scott emerges as a playmaker early on, he could push Countess out of a job.

It’s unlikely the Rams will try Scott on offense at running back again, especially given their depth at running back, but he has the speed and size to play several positions.

This isn’t to say he’ll be the Rams’ version of Taysom Hill, but Scott can absolutely play defense, return kickoffs and be a special teams ace where he was a two-team captain at Penn State. While Wade Phillips hopes he can become a great safety, Fassel and other coaches likely have plans for the young player, too.