“¡Es ascendente y es bueno!”
Those five words would be music to the ears of Johns Hopkins kicker/punter Ben Scott three weeks from now. A Division III standout, Scott, who was selected to play in the 2006 Aztec Bowl in Aguascalientes, Mexico on Dec. 16, would love nothing more than to hear the Spanish equivalent of “It?s up and it?s good!”
“When I found out about it, I was excited,” said Scott, one of 48 Division III seniors selected for the game. “I?ve never been to Mexico. I?m not thinking about getting drafted or anything, but from what I?ve heard, it?s a great way to get your name out there.”
Scott averaged 41.6 yards per punt this season (fourth nationally in Division III), placed 23 of 53 punts inside his opponent?s 20-yard line, boomed nine attempts over 50 yards and drilled three over 60. He also hit 13 of 19 field goals and went 16 of 17 in point-after-attempts. Besides ranking third all-time in Division III in field goals made (43), it is also believed that Scott is the only kicker in Division III history to make 13 or more attempts in three different seasons.
“I really think that he is a [professional] prospect, not only from his physical abilities, but he is mentally tough,” John Hopkins coach Jim Margraff said. “I know there are several hundred teams that play college football, but he is an exceptional player.”
Recruited out of Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, Scott made a smooth transition to the college kicking game, and by the end of his freshman year, he had all but taken over the place-kicking duties. When Margraff recruited Scott, he was hoping to get the kind of skilled kicker he had enjoyed for four previous seasons. What he didn?t bank on, though, was also getting one of the nation?s top Division III punters in the same package.
Scott taught himself to punt and became a three-time first-team All-Centennial Conference pick. With aspirations of earning a pro tryout, Scott will graduate from Johns Hopkins in the spring with a degree in international studies.
“Its something he wanted to do,” Margraff said of Scott?s kicking. “He went to some camps on his own, and through some trial and error on his own, he just wanted to play. He turned himself into a great punter.”
