- John Scott Jr. enters his third season in 2022 as Penn State’s defensive line coach and his first season as run game coordinator.
- During his first two seasons with the Nittany Lions, Scott has tutored three first-team All-Big Ten defensive linemen and a second-team All-American.
- Scott took in Arnold Ebiketie, a transfer, during the 2021 season and helped develop him into an first-team All-Big Ten selection and an FWAA second-team All-American.
- Ebiketie finished the year first among Power Five defensive linemen in tackles for loss (17.0). He also paced the Big Ten in blocked field goals (2), was second in tackles for loss and third in sacks (9.5).
- Defensive tackle PJ Mustipher (second team) and linebacker converted to defensive end Jesse Luketa (third team) also earned all-conference laurels in 2021 for a defensive line unit which helped Penn State finish sixth nationally in points allowed (17.3).
- In his first season, Scott tutored Jayson Oweh and Shaka Toney, who became the first Penn State defensive end duo to receive All-Big Ten first team honors since Courtney Brown and Brad Scioli in 1998.
- Oweh and Toney each earned 2021 NFL Combine invitations while Toney accepted an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
- Oweh was picked in the first round (31st overall) by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2021 NFL Draft, making him the first Penn State defensive end selected in the first round since 2009 (Aaron Maybin).
- Toney was selected by the Washington Football Team in the seventh round (246th overall) as he and Oweh became the first defensive end duo to be drafted in the same year for Penn State since 1975 (Mike Hartenstine and Greg Murphy).
- Scott came to the Nittany Lions after spending the 2019 season at South Carolina as the defensive line coach, where he helped guide Javon Kinlaw to a first-team All-SEC selection by the coaches.
- Kinlaw went on to be drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers while defensive tackle Kobe Smith signed a rookie free-agent deal with the Tennessee Titans.
- Prior to joining the Gamecocks staff, Scott Jr. spent two seasons at Arkansas as the defensive tackles coach in 2018 and defensive line coach in 2017.
- Two Razorback defensive linemen earned NFL opportunities in 2020, as McTelvin Agim was selected in the third round by the Denver Broncos, while T.J. Smith inked a free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.
- The native of Greer, South Carolina worked with the NFL’s New York Jets in 2015 and 2016.
- The Jets led the NFL in rushing touchdowns allowed and red zone defense and were second in rushing defense and fourth in total defense in 2015.
- In 2016, the Jets finished fifth in the AFC in rushing defense and rushing touchdowns allowed. Defensive tackle Leonard Williams earned Pro Bowl recognition that season.
- As the defensive line coach at Texas Tech (2013-14), Scott guided Kerry Hyder and Branden Jackson to the NFL Combine.
- Hyder earned All-Big 12 second-team accolades in 2013.
- Scott spent three seasons as the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator at Georgia Southern (2010-12), where he helped the Eagles to a pair of FCS semifinal appearances.
- He mentored Brent Russell, who was a three-time All-American under Scott and finished as the GSU career sacks leader.
- Scott led Roderick Tinsley to All-America status and helped John Douglas earn All-Southern Conference laurels in 2011.
- Tinsley was also a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award for FCS’s top defensive player in 2010.
- Scott also spent time at Missouri State (2009; outside linebackers), Western Carolina (2006-08; defensive ends/outside linebackers), Norfolk State (2005; defensive line), Louisiana-Lafayette (2002-04; defensive graduate assistant) and Western Davidson (N.C.) (2001).
- Scott Jr. was a four-year letterman for the Western Carolina Catamounts and an All-Southern Conference selection as a defensive end in 1998.
- He had 31 career tackles for loss, which ranks 10th in Western Carolina history.
- Jayson Oweh (Penn State) – Baltimore Ravens; 2020 NFL Draft first-round pick
- Shaka Toney (Penn State) – Washington Football Team; 2020 NFL Draft seventh-round pick
- Javon Kinlaw (South Carolina) - San Francisco 49ers; 2020 NFL Draft first-round pick
- Kobe Smith (South Carolina) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Jon Marshall (Arkansas) – New York Jets; 2020 NFL Draft sixth-round pick
- McTelvin Agim (Arkansas) - Denver Broncos; 2020 NFL Draft third-round pick
- T.J. Smith (Arkansas) - Los Angeles Chargers
- Armon Watts (Arkansas) - Minnesota Vikings; 2019 NFL Draft sixth-round pick
- Kerry Hyder (Texas Tech) – Seattle Seahawks
- Branden Jackson (Texas Tech) – Seattle Seahawks
Personal
Year at Penn State: Third
Hometown: Greer, S.C.
Education: Western Carolina University, 2000 - B.A. Communication; Louisiana-Lafayette, 2006 - Masters of Education
Family: Son: John; Daughters: Juliette, Erin
Coaching Career
2020-21 – Penn State (Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line)
2020-21 – Penn State (Defensive Line)
2019 – South Carolina (Defensive Line)
2017-18 – Arkansas (Defensive Line)
2016 – New York Jets (Assistant Coach)
2015 – New York Jets (Defensive Quality Control)
2013-14 – Texas Tech (Defensive Line)
2010-12 – Georgia Southern (Defensive Line)
2009 – Missouri State (Defensive Line)
2006-08 – Western Carolina (Defensive Line)
2005 – Norfolk State (Defensive Line)
2002-04 – Louisiana-Lafayette (Defensive Line)
2001 – West Davidson High School (Assistant Coach)
Bowl Games as a Coach
- 2022 Outback Bowl - Penn State
- 2013 Holiday Bowl – Texas Tech
- 2011 FCS Semifinal – Georgia Southern
- 2010 FCS Semifinal – Georgia Southern