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LATEST: Wisconsin 2024 Two-star OL Steven Scott commits to Illini as PWO

Published

5 months ago

February 7, 2024

When Steven Scott drove from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, to Champaign in June, he didn’t have any guarantees. The travel took about four hours. However, Scott made the most of his chance at Memorial Stadium’s Big Man Camp for Illinois football and made an impression on the Illini coaches.

In particular, Scott drew the attention of offensive line coach Bart Miller and Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, who struck up a lasting conversation with Scott throughout camp

“They kept saying during my recruitment that I really impressed them at that camp, and that’s why they believe in me,” Scott told Illini Inquirer.

On Tuesday, after a span of seven months, Scott declared his verbal commitment to Illinois as a preferred walk-on. The 6’5 and 260-pound offensive lineman, who had committed to the Air Force, rejected a Division-I scholarship offer from Northern Iowa in favor of the Illini.

“The biggest thing for me was seeing how much the coaches believed me and my ability and how they see me fitting into the o-line in the future,” Scott said. “They made me feel like family.”

Scott traveled to Illinois over the weekend with his family and a few other favored walk-on applicants. Scott joins St. Charles (Ill.) North TE as the sixth preferred walk-on pledge in the Illini Class of 2024. Burbank, Illinois’s Jake Furtney, St. Laurence RB Aaron Ball, Sandburg OL, Orland Park, Ill. Zach Barrett, Harryson Ngassa of Chicago (Ill.) Whitney Young DL, and Blayne Sisson of Mount Carmel (Ill.) ATH.

“What I noticed with the staff, no matter what department they were in, they all knew each other very well,” Scott said. “They all communicated with each other well, and they all work together very well to help us as players. Just one big family. You normally don’t see things like that. It’s more separated at other places I’ve been.”

Together with Barrett, Zafir Stewart, Andrew Dennis, and Scott, the Illini offensive line now has five prospects from the Class of 2024. He plans to start off as a center.

“I will be going in as a center, but they said depending on my body and how I develop I could be moved anywhere on the o-line. He said I’m going in as an all-around athlete. What I will be bringing with me is someone who is going hard every play and will bring that toughness that you need as an o-linemen and will never give up on a play.”