Matt Scott: Video Highlights for Former Arizona QB

Ben Layman

Described as one of the true "sleepers" in this draft at the quarterback position, Matt Scott is often overlooked despite a productive senior season as an Arizona Wildcat.

Though he has just one year of starting experience under his belt, Scott offers an intriguing blend of passing ability and mobility for the position. In that one year of starting, he threw for over 3,600 yards and 27 touchdowns. Just as impressive was his 500-plus yards rushing.

Where Scott ends up going in the draft remains to be seen, but regardless, he should prove to be one of the better value picks at the position and could end up paying off for an NFL team in a big way down the line.

Here are some highlights of Matt Scott's career as an Arizona Wildcat. 

Big Completion Against Stanford

It's tough to make completions 20-plus yards downfield against the stingy defense of the Stanford Cardinal.

Matt Scott shows the willingness to make a big throw downfield, dropping it just inside the sideline for his receiver to haul in. Stanford had forced Scott to work the short and intermediate parts of the field for the most part leading up to this play, where Scott showed off his arm strength, accuracy and willingness to make a difficult throw.

This is an NFL-caliber throw from Scott under pressure against one of the better defenses in college football.

Tough Yards on the Ground

Since Scott is lauded as one of the quarterbacks in this draft capable of running the option, it's only right to focus on some of the tough yards he's gained on the ground.

Facing a fourth down, Scott fakes the handoff and takes off for the first-down marker. The impressive part of the play is the hit he takes as he's gaining the first down. The Nevada defender drops off of Scott, and he's able to fall forward to convert the first down.

Scott will take his fair share of licks like this in the NFL if he's asked to run option quarterback plays.

Surgical in the Red Zone

As a dual-threat quarterback, Scott is a dangerous weapon down in the red zone.

Play action is especially effective for him because of his legs, and you can see how much USC had to worry about that on this play. Scott fakes the handoff, has the patience to allow his receiver to slip past the coverage and throws a bullet to his receiver in the end zone for a touchdown.

You can begin to see how Scott could be major headache for NFL defensive coordinators as a versatile red-zone threat with plays like this.

Back-Shoulder Throw on Third Down

Scott's athleticism is apparent, but his ability to make NFL throws consistently will be the main question for evaluators.

Facing a third down, Scott makes a beautifully timed throw here for a first-down conversion. He places the ball on the back shoulder of the receiver away from the defensive back. This is a classic case of the quarterback and receiver being on the same page with timing.

Scott shows he can make a big-time vertical throw on third down with this completion.

Touchdown Under Pressure

Nothing ever comes easy against the Stanford Cardinal defense, and it showed here on this touchdown pass from Matt Scott.

Even though the design of the play left an unblocked defender in his face, Scott still made an accurate throw into the pressure and found his receiver for six.

This throw took plus arm strength, but even more impressive was his moxie with a Cardinal defender bearing down on him.

Running for a Touchdown

Evaluators want to see just how effective of a running quarterback Scott can be.

Just inside the red zone, Scott fakes the handoff and takes off without hesitation into the brunt of USC's defense. By the time the Trojans realize the ball is in Scott's hands, it's too late. The former Wildcat quarterback wills the ball into the end zone with impressive strength for a touchdown.

Noting his ball security on these runs is important. Scott showed the toughness and grit necessary to convert a touchdown on the ground in the red zone with this play.

Showing off the Arm Strength

This play should help answer questions over whether Matt Scott has the arm strength to make all the vertical throws in the NFL.

On 3rd-and-long, Scott finds single coverage on his wide receiver streaking deep downfield and hits him for a touchdown. He didn't need to drive off of his back foot much to make the throw either, which is all the more impressive.

With an easy flick of the football, Scott is able to hit his receiver with an accurate, well-placed ball on this throw.

   

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