When Auburn returned from spring break last week, Keionte Scott didn’t miss a beat.
The former junior college transfer picked up right where the Tigers left off a little more than a week earlier and was a menace in the secondary as everyone else got back into a rhythm. He was practicing with intent and making life difficult on Auburn’s wide receivers.
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At one point in the day, Zac Etheridge looked over to fellow defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff and said, “Cool him off.” Scott was heating up in drills and having his best day of the spring to date, and McGriff loved every minute of it.
“I said, ‘I don’t have the water to cool this dude off,’” McGriff said. “He was locking them up (Monday), and it was fun to see. The best thing from that I you see his teammates high-fiving and head-slapping him. That guy can really impact the game. We just have to keep him trending and let him play.”
Scott has been trending upward since his delayed arrival at Auburn last fall. A transfer from Snow College who signed with Auburn’s 2022 class, Scott got to campus just a couple days before fall camp. Despite the shorter acclimation period, Scott quickly made an impact in Auburn’s secondary during the first days of practice.
He had an interception on Day 1 and earned one of the team’s player of the day honors. It didn’t stop there. Scott carved out a role in Auburn’s secondary, playing predominantly in the slot at nickel while becoming one of the Tigers’ most relied-upon and productive defensive backs. He joined a stable that included standouts D.J. James, Nehemiah Pritchett and Jaylin Simpson, and he finished the year with 54 total tackles — the most among the team’s defensive backs and fourth among all defenders — along with four tackles for loss (second most among defensive backs on the team), an interception and four pass breakups.
All while also handling primary punt-return duties and averaging 9.57 yards per return, which was top-20 nationally.
It was a transformative year for Scott as he acquitted himself well as a newcomer in the SEC.
“It’s definitely a blessing,” Scott said. “I’m definitely going to take that and use what I learned last year and apply it to my game this year. I feel like I was able to learn a lot getting that experience early and getting my feet wet a little bit. This year I kind of know what I’m getting myself into. Last year I kind of got into it and didn’t know what to look for. I definitely know what to look for and I’m using all that I acquired last year and being able to add it to my game this year, I’m excited to get into Year 2.”
For Scott, his role in Year 2 could be even more important as Auburn installs new defensive coordinator Ron Roberts’ system. Auburn’s coaches haven’t been keeping a depth chart this spring, but Scott has been one of two main options at the nickel/star position in the slot, along with veteran Donovan Kaufman. While he has also worked on the outside at corner, it’s what he brings to the table at nickel that could make him one of the more important pieces on Auburn’s defense.
The position will require more than just pass coverage in the slot; it could include playing more of a linebacker-type role while also being more involved in blitzing, given Roberts’ proclivity for dialing up pressure and creating havoc for opposing offenses. Though it’s still early in the install of the defense, Scott can already notice the difference in the role of the nickel this spring compared to last fall.
“We’re going to be doing a little bit more things, a bigger role and bigger things on our plate as far as being able to move around and do different things,” Scott said. “Nickel is nickel. Learning it now, I think there’s a little of difference, but not too big.”
As Scott quickly works to adapt to his advanced role in the secondary, McGriff has been pleased with what he has seen from the San Diego native and his approach to learning. He always has his notebook in hand and something to write with, prepared to jot down every bit of new information he can and commit it to his craft. At this level, Scott said, it’s all about finding an advantage in the margins; everyone is talented, so the details make all the difference.
“My timeline has been very brief, but I see a dynamic player,” McGriff said. “I see a guy that can impact the game. I see a guy that has the tools to play at a high level…. He’s a serious-minded individual. When he gets on the field, you can see his performance.”
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.
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