In O’Neil Scott’s four years at Syracuse, he has started only seven games on defense. For a guy who has made a living as a backup safety, you’d think it would be easy for him to fade into obscurity, to become just another face in the media guide.

Most would’ve given up by now. Most would’ve transferred or quit. But O’Neil Scott isn’t most people.

Scott has become a staple on one of the best special teams units in the country this season. As a senior leader, his energy and dedication have inspired younger players. Scott is 12th on the Orange this season with 14 tackles, despite seeing almost all his time on kickoffs and punts.

‘With today’s players, if things aren’t going right or in their favor, the easiest thing to do is transfer,’ SU secondary coach R. Todd Littlejohn said. ‘From a coach’s perspective, you have a lot of respect for players who hang in there with it.’

Since starting the first seven games of his sophomore year, Scott has gone for a full two years without a start on defense. In 2002, he started the first seven games of the season at free safety after senior Maurice McClain broke his leg in spring practice.

But as soon as McClain was able to return, he regained the starting role. Though McClain had never started a game on defense, the Orange was struggling with a 1-6 record and Scott was again limited to special teams duty.

At times it was difficult, Scott admitted, but leaving Syracuse was never an option.

‘You’re always disappointed when you’re not the starter,’ Scott said. ‘I felt like I should have left, and I felt like I should have transferred. But I just decided to stick with it.’

Scott could’ve done it. Following in the footsteps of SU star safety Donovin Darius (both attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, N.J.), Scott was recruited by programs such as Virginia Tech, Wisconsin and West Virginia. But in his mind, transferring wasn’t really an option.

‘I’ve never been a quitter,’ he said. ‘I just like contributing, I just like competing.

‘There’s always a few back home saying stuff and asking you why this and why that – you’ve just got to go on what you feel.’

Scott’s father, Othneil McNeil, said Scott never even discussed leaving SU with him. It wasn’t Scott’s style to complain and run his mouth.

‘He’s just a quiet person,’ McNeil said. ‘He never really shows any emotion. If anything is ever bothering him, you won’t know. If he’s mad, he’ll never show it.’

‘I admire and respect him for having stuck it out because the easier thing is to transfer,’ Littlejohn said. ‘Sometimes you have to know the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.’

So Scott stayed on through the remainder of that 2002 season, finishing fifth on the team with 61 tackles. And in 2003, then-sophomore Anthony Smith beat him out for the starting free safety spot while he continued on special teams for all 12 games.

This year, Scott is part of a special teams unit that has allowed just 19.3 yards per kickoff return and 6.0 yards per punt return. Scott is the first player off the bench in nickel and dime packages, and he has proven to be invaluable to younger players.

‘He’s always a leader,’ Smith said. ‘He always knew the defense, always knew what was going on. He tried to help us younger guys out and he did a great job of that. He’s a real competitive person.’

‘It’s their spot,’ Scott said of Smith and starting strong safety Diamond Ferri. ‘But if anything ever happens – God forbid – I’ll be able to play.’

Published on October 14, 2004 at 12:00 pm