The News-Gazette's 88th All-State Football Team: Speed and size propel 'unbelievable' Scott to Player of the Year honors

Nov. 23—CHICAGO — Justin Scott didn't play varsity football until his sophomore year of high school.

Until then — well before the the St. Ignatius standout would commit to Ryan Day's Ohio State Buckeyes this past summer — Scott played baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer.

"My dad just loved keeping me active and I love sports, so I was having fun playing everything," Scott said, noting soccer was his favorite to play.

Scott still plays basketball for the Wolfpack, where he's had plenty of success on coach Matt Monroe's teams that have reached the Class 3A state tournament the last two seasons.

But lining up across opposing quarterbacks is what earned the edge rusher a litany of attention around the country, including The News-Gazette's All-State Player of the Year designation for the 2023 season.

"It's been a lot of fun," Scott said. "I've learned stuff from each class (before me) and I feel like without the class of '22, I'm not where I am today. They just helped me to get better."

Scott's time with the Wolfpack's program has coincided with the team's rise under coach Matt Miller, who has led the program since 2017.

The Wolfpack, who can claim a Chicago Catholic League championship as far back as 1920, reached the Class 6A state semifinals in 2022 during Scott's junior season. Success ensued again this fall, with St. Ignatius going 8-4 and advancing to the 8A state quarterfinals before losing to unbeaten Loyola Academy two weeks ago.

"They started the program back up about 20 years ago and in that time frame, we haven't had a player sign a Division I scholarship," Miller said. "As far as what Justin brings off the field, just an excitement about football and college football."

Miller knew immediately that the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Scott had difference-making potential well before he suited up for St. Ignatius.

"I mean, he was 6-4, 250 pounds as an eighth-grader," Miller said. "And then his first day of summer camp he is going on sprints, and he's coming in first, second, third. The rush of him coming into football was pretty crazy."

That Scott would take naturally to the gridiron was apparent given his athletic background.

Miller assured Scott's family that he wouldn't play varsity football as a freshman, in part to ease him into the game as a newcomer to the sport. That quickly proved difficult.

"I got on the phone with his mom and she said, 'Yeah, he's thinking about playing football and, you know, has never done it before and (I was) just really worried that you (we were) going to put him on varsity,'" Miller said. "I'm like, 'Well, we don't put anybody on varsity as a freshman, it's not something we like to do.' ... And then the first time I saw him, I was like, 'Unbelievable.'"

Scott credits his athletic background for helping him with quickness.

He moves quicker than you'd expect from someone with his size.

"This year especially, I've gotten a lot better with recognizing blocks and using my hands a lot," Scott said. "But one thing I'd say that makes me who I am is my quickness and just my ability to move at the size I am."

Miller and the Wolfpack coaching staff helped Scott through his recruiting process, which quickly included interest from essentially every Power Five programs across the country.

Most of the Big Ten — Illinois included — extended offers to Scott. Along with the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame and Southern Cal.

"It did get overwhelming at times," Scott said. "I think it was my junior year, (during the spring) we had close to like 40 coaches in two weeks. It's definitely been a once-in-a-lifetime experience, going on visits and seeing different universities."

Scott's decision to play at Ohio State ultimately came down to the Buckeyes' coaching staff. Namely veteran defensive line coach Larry Johnson.

"Just his resume, his draft picks, his production," Scott said. "Why not want to be coached by one of the greats?"

Scott's prowess on the field often earned him double and triple coverage from opposing teams this fall. It also earned him a spot in the All-American Bowl that takes place Jan. 6 in San Antonio. That will require some time off from the basketball team, as the Wolfpack seek their third straight trip to State Farm Center this season. Scott doesn't just fill a roster space on the basketball court, either. He averaged 3.9 points and 6.2 rebounds as a starter last season.

"He can score, he can move," Miller said. "His role is obviously to be a big guy and take up space and he does a good job with that."

His unique size and strength also allowed him to get a few snaps at running back as St. Ignatius moved down the stretch of its football season this fall.

"That was a lot of fun," Scott said. "Just being able to be versatile running the ball, it was a lot of fun."

St. Ignatius had coursework ready for Scott if he had elected to graduate early and enroll at Ohio State so he could take part in spring practices with the Buckeyes in 2024, according to Miller.

But Scott's decision to stick around for his final semester was easy.

"I'm not really in a hurry," Scott said. "(The next chapter) is going to start when it starts. I'm just going to finish playing basketball, finish school with my friends and have a good time."