Player Bio:
John Kimball Scott took advantage of the thin air of Denver as a high school punter and kicker, but his exploits in the SEC near sea level show his leg strength is not simply a trick of the Rockies. It didn't take long for his long legs and full extension to flip the field for Alabama. As a true freshman, Scott led the nation in gross punting average with 48 yards per kick, and placed 31-of-55 kicks inside the 20-yard-line while only allowing five touchbacks. He was a 2014 Ray Guy Award finalist, first-team All-SEC selection, and first-team Freshman All-American and All-American by numerous outlets. His average was down a bit in 2015 (44.2 gross), but he still put 25-of-70 kicks inside the 20-yard-line. Scott bounced back to average 47.2 yards a kick as a junior (ranking third in the FBS), placing 25-of-64 punts inside the 20 and garnering second-team All-American and first-team all-conference honors. Scott was a first-team All-SEC selection as a senior, averaging 43 yards per punt, forcing 27 fair catches on 54 punts while also putting 27 inside the 20 yard-line. Scott has kickoff experience, as well; he performed that duty 34 times in his first three seasons (12 touchbacks) and then all 99 in his final season (45 touchbacks). He's had two punts blocked in his career (one in 2015, one in the 2016 national title game).
Analysis
By Lance Zierlein NFL Analyst
Draft Projection: Rounds 3-4
Overview:
Strengths:
- Impressive 45.6-yard career average per punt
- Handled kickoff duties this season
- Has a big leg and can kick for distance or hang time
- Produced impressive hang time (4.55) and punts returned rate (9.1 percent) this season
- Dropped 25 percent of his punts inside the 10 and 51 percent inside the 20
- Has flip-flop tool at his disposal
- Had just four touchbacks total all season
- Soft hands adjust to snaps outside of his frame
- Holds for kicks
Weaknesses:
- Deliberate approach
- Can be a shade slow with his touch to toe times
- May have to expedite his operation time in the pros to avoid blocks
- His high inside-the-20 percentage benefitted from fortuitous rolls
- Below average touchback percentage on kickoffs
