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Bengals rookie Scott out to prove he’s worth the risk

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By Carlos “Big C” Holmes, Staff Writer Updated 10:10 AM Friday, July 24, 2009

The Cincinnati Bengals caused some eyebrows to be raised when they selected Abilene Christian running back Bernard Scott in the sixth round of the 2009 draft.

Scott entered the draft with more issues than National Geographic after being arrested five times. He also had trouble with authority during his college playing days, but that didn’t stop the Bengals, who are notorious for housing players with questionable character.

The Bengals were firm believers that the good far outweighed the bad in Scott, who insists those troubled days are behind him and enters training camp with a chip on his shoulder. “I have a lot to prove,” Scott said in a recent phone interview. “Everything I’ve been working towards since those incidents took place is about to pay off.

“I want to prove that I can play on this level and do the right things. I need to prove to the Bengals organization that they made the right decision by selecting me. I think I can do some good and help the team out.”

Scott went on to say that his troubled past was all a part of growing up and it’s about what you learn from your mistakes that matters. He said he’s ready to move forward and do whatever is needed to make the team.

There’s no denying the running back’s talent. Scott dominated at the Division II level, racking up 4,321 yards and scoring 63 rushing touchdowns in 25 college games. He also caught 93 passes for 1,391 yards and 10 touchdowns, showing his versatility.

Scott is an explosive back with the ability to take it the distance on any given play. He’s a strong inside runner and can be creative in the open field. The Bengals will likely use him on kickoff and punt returns, and possibly as a third-down back.

The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Scott will be a 25-year-old rookie should he make the club. There is no reason to believe he won’t after his performance in minicamp. However, that high level of play must continue throughout training camp. Aware of the expectations, Scott appears to have the right mindset.

“The sky is the limit for me,” he said. “I feel like if I can keep training hard and continue to work hard I can accomplish a lot at this level.

“I believe football is football. The better the competition the more you have to step up your game. I’m prepared to do so and looking forward to the challenge. I think I’m going to be successful.”

Carlos "Big C" Holmes covers the NFL for Cox Ohio Publishing.

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