Kentucky DB commit Quaysheed Scott is ready to prove his talent

Kentucky football’s latest pickup, Quaysheed “Q” Scott, isn’t going to blow you away with what the recruiting outlets think of him. He’s considered an unranked prospect by most, with On3 the lone major site to slot him as a three-star recruit. But don’t mistake his lack of stars as a reflection of his overall talent — there’s a very good reason Kentucky wanted him on board.

Scott, who committed to UK on Tuesday afternoon, worked his way into this position. After missing a chunk of his sophomore season due to a thumb injury, the Marion (SC) High product came alive as a junior this past fall. Suiting up on both sides of the ball, the 6-foot, 185-pound athlete played all over the field. Scott recorded 26 total touchdowns with 940 receiving yards and 540 rushing yards on offense. On defense, he racked up 64 tackles, seven interceptions, and four pass breakups.

But despite those impressive numbers, he lacked Power 5 offers. That is until he began to camp at some big-name programs over the summer where he was able to show off his blazing speed. Scott ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash in front of Kentucky coaches in June, which led to him earning an offer from the staff. Defensive coordinator Brad White and defensive backs coach Chris Collins clearly saw something that intrigued them with Scott’s game.

Ranking or no ranking, Scott feels confident that he belongs at a place like Kentucky.

“The rankings, I don’t feel no way about them,” Scott told KSR on Wednesday. “I let people think what they think but I know what I can do. I’m gonna prove I’m the best, I’m one of the best, I can compete with anybody.”

i’m home 💙 #BBN pic.twitter.com/PNK5xX3uAk

— Quaysheed “ Q “ Scott (@QuaysheedScott) July 4, 2023

Scott closed his college recruitment with over a dozen Divison I offers under his belt. His list of finalists included Old Dominion, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, and Miami (OH), along with the Wildcats. But his connection with the Kentucky staff and an opportunity to play in the Southeastern Conference proved too enticing. And when mom approves, everyone is happy.

“My mom liked it. My mom liked two schools (UK and Old Dominion), so she was like which one would I prefer?” Scott said. “I picked Kentucky because when I went up there, it felt like home. I was like I can see myself there in a Kentucky jersey, I could see myself up there because they make it feel like home. The coaching staff was nice so I was like that might be the one.”

Following his impressive camp performance, Scott toured the UK facilities and was able to meet with some of the players and coaches. It was those conversations and interactions that pushed him toward the ‘Cats. Since he never took an official visit, he can return in the fall for an even more in-depth experience.

“It was really the coaching staff, really it was,” Scott added. “And all the people — not even just coaching staff but the players, the GAs, all that. They really showed a lot of love and I liked it a lot.”

While Scott can play on both sides of the football, he’s being recruited to Kentucky as a defensive back. In particular, the staff sees him filling a cornerback role, although he did add that he has a history of playing safety, too. Now that he’s locked in and committed, he can focus on sharpening those skills as he prepares for his senior this fall and beyond.