Tyler Scott, Northwestern Wildcats Football, No. 97

Today, we got Tyler Scott, and we are glad to have Tyler Scott. Dude's a 265-pound wrecking ball of a defensive end, finishing 2012 as an honorable mention all-conference player with a team-high nine sacks, with quite a few in clutch situations. (Nine sacks! Nine!) And 2013 holds brighter things, as Scott looks to be one of the best defensive ends in the conference and the star of one of Northwestern's strongest positional groups. Let's talk Tyler, y'all!

Origin myth

Scott wasn't a very highly touted recruit out of Warren (Ohio) Howland. A linebacker and tight end, Scott set school records in tackles, sacks, and interceptions his senior year of high school while catching seven touchdowns, but most schools looked over him. A three-star per 247's composite, Scott only had offers from Northwestern, Bowling Green, and Eastern Michigan.

At Northwestern

Scott's career began inauspiciously enough, but he came on strong this past season. He began redshirting, a reserve, and a Workout Warrior. This past season, he was Northwestern's defensive MVP. Scott started six games as a sophomore and showed flashes, recording a sack in his first start against Boston College. But dude straight up blew up last season, finishing second in the conference with nine sacks, the most of any returning player, three forced fumbles, and five pass deflections. He's somewhat of a closer: late sacks turned into game-sealing forced fumbles against Minnesota and Vanderbilt, and he registered his second sack of the Gator Bowl as Mississippi State was trying to claw back into the game.

Career highlight

Tough to pick here - dude had a monster campaign. But I think the play of the year for Scott came against Vanderbilt. It was tied late, and a promising drive had stalled, leading to a Northwestern field goal. That gave Vandy the ball back down three points with two minutes to go - the type of situation where Northwestern has a knack for failure. But on the first play of Vandy's drive, Scott did work: playing on the inside of the line, he broke free off a stunt, nailed Jordan Rodgers, the ball popped free, and Dean Lowry would hop on it. Seconds later, Kain Colter was in the end zone, giving Northwestern a secure 23-13 lead that would eventually hold up for the final score. He basically mimicked the situation against Minnesota in a less-close ballgame.

Tyler talkin

Tyler Scott discusses that if he could have a super power, it would help him get to class on time, and says if he could be on any show, it would be "Storage Wars." Dude needs to dream bigger.

Anagram of choice

Discovering the true inner selves of the Wildcats through respelling their names

Tyler Scott, anagrammed, is

LET TOTS CRY

Why bother attempting to cheer up children? They're just gonna start crying again as soon as you figure out how to get them to stop, anyway. Tyler Scott does not believe in mercy.

Relevant musical selection

"Trouble On My Mind", Tyler the Creator

My repeated attempts to get people to refer to Tyler Scott as "Tyler the Creator" have failed miserably. Probably because there's nothing in common between the charasmatic leader of a hip-hop collective and Northwestern's best defensive end. Tyler's obviously a really talented rapper but I feel there's a little bit too much unnecessary shock value in his bars that I don't really vibe with. Him and Pusha's such a great combo tho! I think Earl is just, like, insanely technically gifted, and obviously I still haven't stopped listening to Frank Ocean's album on a regular basis, but OFWGKTA isn't my fave.

How he can help

Dude is a damn bull. Its no surprise Scott has come on strong if you read that ESPN link up there about Scott being a Workout Warrior. Scott came into college a 6'4, 220-pound outside linebacker. Now, he's a 6'4, 265-pound defensive end. And you know what, he's got the strength of a defensive tackle. You know how Northwestern has historically had a bad habit of rushing three guys when protecting late leads, and it never pays off? Well, with Scott, it pays off. Both of his sacks in the Gator Bowl and his game-sealing forced fumbles against Minnesota and Vanderbilt came out of three down lineman sets where he was playing on the inside of the line, knocking linemen back before pursuing the quarterback and wrecking him. He's a full-time edge-rusher, but his strength makes him monstrous no matter how Northwestern chooses to use him.

Oh, and this is good:

Fitzgerald mentions Zack Oliver, C.J. Robbins, Mike Jensen, Jack Schwaba among spring standouts. Says Tyler Scott is taking next step.

— Rittenberg/Bennett (@ESPN_BigTen) April 10, 2013

Depth chart projection

Scott's as sure a thing as anybody on Northwestern's depth chart, a guaranteed starter at one defensive end spot. The drama is if he pushes for an all-Big Ten nod after being an honorable mention this past season. Scott reminds me a hell of a lot of Vince Browne, in appearance, size, and skillset - hopefully he doesn't experience a senior-year dropoff like Browne and post-injury, pre-NFL Corey Wootton before him.