Closer Look: Aaron Scott Is The Complete Package At Cornerback

Ohio State didn’t have to go far to land Aaron Scott, who attended Springfield High School where he was a First-Team All-State selection at cornerback as both a junior and a senior. He finished with seven interceptions over those two seasons. As a senior in 2023, Scott also played quarterback and helped lead his team to the state championship game.

Scott was ranked the No. 1 player in Ohio and the No. 6 cornerback in the 2024 class overall. He was the No. 36 player in the 247Sports Composite and ranked a five-star prospect. He signed with Ohio State over offers from Michigan, Oregon, USC, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and a dozen others.

What To Like

Aaron Scott has good size (6-0 185) and length and he puts both of those assets to use as a blanket in coverage. And not a normal blanket. More like a weighted blanked. But this kind of weighted blanket actually causes anxiety rather than reduces it. He’s so close to receivers that they have to put their wallets in their front pockets because he’s left no room in their back pockets.

In the clips below, you can see Scott running stride for stride with receivers. On a deep route down the sideline, he and a receiver could set a record for fastest 50 yards in a three-legged race (6.0 seconds). He is a standout in press coverage but can play zone or bail or whatever else is needed.

Aaron Scott is a lockdown defender. pic.twitter.com/oCAeBAMb3q
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) July 31, 2024

The Potential

Aaron Scott has the potential to be the next great Ohio State cornerback. That’s too much to put on a player but the skill set is there. He is a dominating press defender but can play off his man and trigger on the ball. You can see clips of the way he triggers below. He can keep his eye on the quarterback when it’s called for and then knife through blockers to make a play.

Scott is also a very good defender of the football. He blocks shots like a 7-footer. His agility and speed can get him to the ball quickly but he still arrives under control.

Aaron Scott triggers well when the ball starts to move. pic.twitter.com/YT00IEhLIr
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) July 31, 2024

The Expectations

With starting cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun back, as well as second-year guys Jermaine Mathews and Calvin Simpson-Hunt, playing time is going to be tough to come by for Aaron Scott. Enrolling early and getting plenty of snaps in the spring will help, but there is still a pecking order to get through.

That being said, a true freshman has started at least one game at cornerback each of the previous three years for the Buckeyes. That shouldn’t happen this year, but the command from OSU head coach Ryan Day is that the young players need to play this year. The non-conference schedule sets up nicely for a freshman like Scott to get time, especially if Mathews moves past mop-up duty.

Scott was with the twos in the spring because Mathews was playing nickel. Mathews should be back outside now but the experience for Scott was valuable. Next year, he could be competing for a starting spot, or at least a spot in the top three.

Ohio State freshman cornerback Aaron Scott had six tackles and two PBUs in the spring game. pic.twitter.com/E9pz8VVc9z
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) July 31, 2024

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that Aaron Scott has a lot of people talking about him. At times he covers like a shadow, but not a long shadow. More like a 12:15 shadow. He thrives in press coverage and has tremendous ball skills and precise timing as the pass arrives.

Scott could be a valuable reserve this season but will become a more vocal and visible part of the defense next year.

Don’t sleep on him having some kind of impact this year, however.