A year absence has GSU’s Trent Scott ready for 2015
GRAMBLING – Trent Scott spent almost the entire 2014 season on Grambling’s sideline in a helpless position.
Scott, Grambling’s leader on the offensive line and blind side protector at left tackle, suffered a season-ending injury in the opener and was forced to watch his unit struggle for the next 11 weeks without him.
Any positive feelings about the offensive line in the preseason quickly evaporated as the Tigers finished with one of the worst rushing attacks in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
A year later, Scott is back with a clean bill of health and is more than ready to leave an impact on the 2015 season.
“I missed being on the field last year. It was hard sitting on the sideline watching them not being able to do the things I need to do with them,” Scott said. “I’m blessed to be back. I’m 100 percent. I feel great. I’m just ready to attack this season with them.”
Scott returns as the anchor of Grambling’s line in what is expected to be a vastly improved unit with a different attitude.
Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs made it a point to beef up the line and become more physical via incoming freshmen and junior college transfers.
Even with the additions, it still all starts on the left side with Scott.
“I got my big left tackle that came back that was out last year,” Grambling offensive coordinator Eric Dooley said. “He was the leader of the offensive line but he’s back now. I think he’s doing a tremendous job of getting those guys ready and leading those guys in the right direction.”
Dooley said Monday he’s noticed Scott is hungrier this camp after missing 11 games.
“It was kind of tough for him,” Dooley said. “I think he’s ready to go and looking to see what this year is going to bring for him.”
Grambling’s offensive line can only go up after its running backs averaged just 3.2 yards per carry in 2014. Junior college transfer Terry Boyd is likely Grambling’s starting center, and true freshman Paul Nosworthy has spent most of fall camp running with the first-team offense at left guard.
“We take the whole running game onto our backs. We know it’s on,” Scott said. “It goes as we go. We take that and we work hard to get better. We’ve attacked this fall camp and done everything we’ve done everyday to make sure we get that push off the ball we need.”
Scott has served as a mentor of sorts to Nosworthy, who is expected to line up next to Scott for Saturday’s season opener at California.
At 6-foot-5 and 304 pounds, Scott is the biggest lineman on Grambling’s roster but Nosworthy is no slouch himself at 6-4, 270.
“Like we tell him he’s not a freshman anymore. He’s definitely going to be dropped in the grease in front of 60,000 against University of Cal-Berkeley,” Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs said of Nosworthy. “I think he’s not the type of young man that gets wide eye. He relishes in the opportunity to really get out there and perform. I don’t think the stage is too big for him.”
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