Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Scott Looks Forward to this Weekend's NFL Draft
04/19/2002 | 12:00:00 | Football
April 19, 2002
Southern Illinois senior linebacker Bart Scott is anxiously awaiting this weekend's NFL Draft. Since the season ended, Scott has endured grueling workouts to prepare himself for testing by NFL scouts. One-tenth of a second in the 40-yard dash can mean the difference between getting drafted or passed by.
Scott was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine where hundreds of the top draft prospects gathered for testing last February.
Instead, the Baltimore Ravens came to Carbondale recently to measure the Saluki linebacker. He wowed them by running a 4.62 on a grass surface in the 40-yard dash and posting a 3.9 mark in the "black-box shuttle." Only 10 players at the Combine had a better mark in the shuttle and all were either running backs, wide receivers or defensive backs.
Scott's numbers exceeded those of all the linebackers at the combine. Even more impressive is that Scott has bulked up to 242 pounds from his previous playing weight of 225.
Scott said that Baltimore, Miami, Pittsburgh, New England and Kansas City are the NFL teams that have shown the most interest in him.
Here's a transcript of an interview with Bart Scott as he watched the Salukis at spring practice on Wednesday.
Q: When did you realize you had a chance to play in the NFL?
A: Near the end of the season, when I was doing some good things and competing at a high level, it really struck me that maybe I have a shot and a chance to make it to the NFL. It was against Western Kentucky when I actually felt I played a complete game.
Q: Are you confident in your ability to make it at the next level?
A: A guy came up to me after the Western game and identified himself as a pastor. He said that God had a word for me. He said that God said to him, rest easy, that I'll make it to the NFL. I had two experiences after that as far as spiritual people coming to me and telling me what they saw. I talked to my mother about it, and she said two times from the Lord is confirmation, and he gave me three. I figured at that point, I'd give it a shot. If people believe in me, why not believe in myself?
Q: I take it your Faith is an important part of your life?
A: I believe in God and that Jesus is God's Son. I have a very spiritual mother who is deeply rooted in Christianity. I know that everything good that's happened to me is because of Him. Coming from my situation, being suspended the year before, to just having the opportunity to play in the NFL, is just tremendous. God moved everything that was in my way and put a coaching staff in place that cared about me and really worked hard for me and believed in me and gave me a chance. Maybe some other coaches would have seen me as a problem and gotten rid of me.
Q: Talk about how you prepared yourself for the all-important day when the scouts came to test you.
A: Coach (Eric) Klein has been my MVP. Coach Klein and Coach Tuke (Tom Matukewicz) have really, really helped me out a lot. They went far beyond the call of duty. I owe a lot to those guys. They're a total class act. Coach Klein comes out with me every day, after he does his job with the teams. I don't play anymore. He's not obligated to do anything for me. He came out here and put me on a program. I started out trying to train myself, but it was inconsistent, because nobody can push you like a coach. I respect him and believed in what he was telling me. When I tested (for the pro scouts), I tested well. I gained weight. I added muscle mass. He's done a lot for me. So Coach Klein is one of the major factors in me even having an opportunity to impress the scouts that come.
Q: We're you pleased with your performance?
A: I tested very well. I ran a 4.62 on grass and did the black box shuttle in 3.9, so the quickness is there. Just everything that he put me through, I bought into the whole system, and it turned out to be beneficial for me.
Q: Have any other teams come to Carbondale to test you?
A: It wouldn't be economical for all the teams to come in and test one player. So if you get a good time, all those numbers get around to the other teams. That started a buzz. Then teams started requesting film. Sometimes players are workout gurus, but when it comes to playing on the field, they're not nearly as good as their numbers indicate. Hopefully, teams were impressed by what they saw me do.
Q: Are you working with an agent?
A: I have an agent who has helped promote me. He knows the necessary steps and has gotten a lot of film out to all the teams. He's been on the phone with different guys, doing what he can, but it comes down to producing on the field. He can only say so much. It comes down totally to what you can do.
Q: Do the teams interview you personally to find out what you're like?
A: They don't necessarily talk to you. I mean a player could put on a facade and become something that you're not. They talk to the coaches, and a lot of the guys decided to talk to (team trainer) Ed (Thompson), because he's been here the longest. He's been around me all four years.
Q: What would it mean to you if your name gets called this weekend in the draft?
A: Through all the situations I've had, and coming from a smaller school, going in the draft period, to me personally, would be like going in the first round. Nobody expected me to make it this far. It's only by the grace of God that I was able to make it this far. It would be a dream come true. My parents always told me I can achieve anything and to shoot for the stars, and if you land on the moon, you deal with it. That's the philosophy I live by and it's really helped me shoot for this and give it all I have.
