PRINT: Marion's Quay’sheed Scott can be ‘high impact player’ for Gamecocks (copy)
COLUMBIA, S.C. − Quay’sheed Scott is glad to be back home in the Palmetto State.
While there’s still a few weeks until he makes his debut for the South Carolina football team, he’s been thinking about it since the day he transferred into the Gamecocks’ program.
Marion’s Quay’Sheed Scott (2) is back in the Palmetto State and believes he can be a 'high impact player' for South Carolina.
“I’m ready for it. ... I’ve been ready for it,” Scott told The State in a media day interview Aug. 6.
Scott is a native of Marion. He played his high school for the Swamp Foxes of Marion High School. He was the Region 8-AA Player of the Year in 2023 and wrapped up his high school career as a three-star recruit.
South Carolina got in on the Scott sweepstakes a bit late. He committed to Kentucky on July 4, 2023 and wasn’t offered by Beamer and the Gamecocks until Oct. 9 of that year, per 247Sports.
USC pursued, but Scott was unwavering in his commitment to play for the Wildcats.
“Out of high school, they basically were in my recruitment hard, but they kind of offered me a little late in my senior year. And I was already committed to Kentucky ... so I didn’t really want to switch up right then and there,” Scott said.
Kentucky didn’t waste time getting Scott on the field. He played in 11 games his freshman year and had six tackles. Scott got most of his playing time on special teams. He played 149 total snaps in 2024, per Pro Football Focus, and 51 of those came on defense.
Last year his playing time increased astronomically. Scott started all 12 games for the Wildcats and played 488 snaps on defense, per PFF. His PFF grades for defense (74.4), run defense (73.6) and coverage (75.7) were among the best on the team.
Scott has played in 23 games at the SEC level. That sort of experience is exactly what South Carolina’s secondary needs — it’s a group with few veterans but is otherwise characterized by inexperienced talent. And it’s exactly why USC defensive coordinator Clayton White went after Scott in the transfer portal.
“That was part of the acquisition, part of getting him here,” White told The State. “Someone that’s played snaps in this league against the receivers and the slot receivers that we face, and tackle the guys that we have to tackle. We’re not on a guessing game as to what he can and can’t do.”
Scott’s 39 total tackles were sixth-most for Kentucky last year. He also recorded an interception and four pass breakups. Scott has 45 tackles to his name so far in his career.
“Expecting a lot from Quay’sheed,” White said. “Quay’sheed is a high impact player. He’s very comfortable in our system right now. He’s doing a great job of just getting the details from Coach (Torrian) Gray and myself on how we do things on the back end. ... Once he’s out there on the field, he’s gonna play fast and play with a lot of effort. Looking forward to him making plays."
South Carolina is looking for its next starting nickel after losing three-year starter Jalon Kilgore to the NFL. All signs have pointed to Scott competing with Jalon’s brother, Gerald Kilgore, for the starting spot during preseason camp.
“He’s pushing me every day, and I’m pushing him every day, making each other better each and every day,” Kilgore said of Scott on Aug. 18. “He’s coming in, he doesn’t know a whole bunch about the defense, our scheme, and everything just yet. But he’s figuring it out, and I’m helping him again, like he’s helping me. Us together, we’re just going off of each other, and it’s gonna be great.”
Regardless of who earns the starting job, Scott is expected to “play a lot,” USC’s co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Torrian Gray told The State on July 30.
White said Scott is just excited to be back at home close to family and is looking forward to playing a home game in Williams-Brice Stadium.
“When I hit the portal this year, South Carolina was the only place I really wanted to go to,” Scott said. “I ain’t really visit nobody else. I ain’t really talk to nobody else. I already knew South Carolina was the place I wanted to be because it’s home.”
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