Georgia RB mulling visits, Louisville offer

Valdosta (Ga.) running back Jamal Scott has an offer from Louisville, and is talking to Auburn, South Carolina, Clemson and Fresno State. Still, he said he is favoring Louisville slightly at the moment.

“I’ve been talking to Louisville, Auburn, South Carolina, Clemson and now Fresno State,” Scott said. “I’m pushing toward Louisville a little more that the rest right now. It’s a little closer than most of the other places that are calling me, and I have a better chance at being a running back there because their starter will be leaving. I also like Coach Petrino (Head coach Bobby). He’s a real good guy, and he’s really laid back when I talk to him. His competitive spirit comes through when you talk to him, it sounds like home.

“I want to get as far away from Georgia as possible. Fresno State is in a big city, but I will go there if it works out better. I’d go because it would be something different. Still, I’m more of a small-town country boy, so a place like Clemson is more my style.”

Scott has seen a few of the campuses he’s considering, but he said that he plans to make visits to others soon.

“I’ve been to games at Auburn and Clemson and a few other places already,” Scott said. “But I’ll probably make more visits right after the season is over. I’m looking for a place that has my major, that has good facilities, and that has a good teacher-to-student ratio.”

Entering the third round of the playoffs, Valdosta has relied on Scott for much of the season despite splitting his carries with another running back. Scott said that while his season started a little slow it has picked up significantly down the stretch.

“I’m finally getting to touch the ball more often now,” he said. “It’s been a rough year mentally trying to get my yards, and I started off slow but it’s coming along strong now at the end. I’m getting more carries now out of the shotgun, and I have about 1020 yards. It’s been hard trying to run through the tackles sometimes, but I have the ability to see.”

“Last year we lost in the state championship game, but this year I’m confident we can make it back and do good. This team is starting to gel at the right time.”

Scott said that his teammate, linebacker James Neal, is considering a number of the same schools and the two have considered trying to attend the same college. Still, he said he felt Neal was more dedicated to FSU, a school that has been recruiting Neal more heavily than Scott, and that Neal would likely end up there.