L.J. Scott NFL Draft

CAREER NOTES: Third-year player and two-year letterwinner has rushed for 1,693 yards and 17 touchdowns on 330 carries in 26 career games, including 11 starts . . . has six career 100-yard rushing games . . . his 1,693 career rushing yards are fifth most by a Spartan through their sophomore season . . . named to preseason watch lists for the Maxwell Award (college player of the year) and the Doak Walker Award (nation’s premier running back) . . . preseason All-Big Ten selection by Athlon Sports (second team) . . . named one of the top 30 players in the Big Ten by CollegeFootballNews.com.

2016 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Led team in rushing yards (994), carries (184), total touchdowns (7) and rushing touchdowns (6), while also leading the running backs in yards per carry (5.4) . . . set new career highs with 184 carries and 994 yards . . . his 994 rushing yards were seventh most by a Spartan sophomore in a single season . . . third-team All-Big Ten selection by the media, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele . . . honorable mention all-league choice by the coaches . . . offensive recipient of MSU’s Outstanding Underclass Back Award . . . reached 100 rushing yards in four of the last six games, averaging 109.7 ypg in final six games of season . . . rushed for 100 yards five times overall, which tied for second most in the Big Ten in the regular season . . . played in all 12 games, including 10 starts at tailback . . . had 16 carries for 59 yards at No. 8 Penn State in limited action with an injury . . . collected career highs in rushing yards (160), all-purpose yards (236) and receiving yards (76) against No. 2 Ohio State; scored two TDs against the Buckeyes, one on a career-long 64-yard catch and run on MSU’s second offensive play of the game and the second on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter that pulled MSU within 17-16 . . . the career-high 76 receiving yards more than doubled his previous season total of 71 yards . . . also recorded a career-long rush with a 61-yard scamper in the first quarter against the Buckeyes . . . darted for 122 yards on 20 carries vs. Rutgers, with one TD . . . earned Spartan Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance vs. Rutgers . . . rushed for 50 yards on 14 carries and added three catches for 19 yards at Illinois . . . tied career high with 22 carries and rushed for 139 yards vs. No. 2 Michigan, becoming the first opponent RB to record a 100-yard rushing game against the Wolverines in 2016 . . . added two catches for 47 yards vs. Michigan and had a 5-yard TD in the first quarter . . . registered second 100-yard rushing outing of the season with 128 yards on 20 carries (6.4 ypc) at Maryland, including a career-long 48-yard run for a TD . . . the 128 rushing yards were the second-most ever by a Spartan against Maryland (record: Jeremy Langford with 138 in 2014) . . . tallied 38 yards on 11 carries at Indiana . . . logged 61 yards on 14 rushes vs. Wisconsin, with a long of 19 yards on Spartans’ first play from scrimmage . . . was MSU’s starting tailback at No. 18 Notre Dame; tied his career high with 22 carries and had 98 rushing yards against the Fighting Irish . . . had 105 rushing yards on 20 carries (5.3 avg.) with one TD vs. Furman; scored on a 9-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter.

2015 SEASON (FRESHMAN): True freshman led the team in rushing (699 yards; 49.9 ypg.; 4.8 avg.), carries (146) and rushing touchdowns (11) . . . became first freshman to lead MSU in rushing since Larry Caper in 2009 . . . named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team by ESPN.com . . . his 11 rushing TDs tied for third most in the Big Ten and were also second most by a Spartan freshman in a single season (Sedrick Irvin, 16, 1996) . . . ranked second on the team in scoring with 66 points . . . played in all 14 games, including one start (Michigan) . . . named co-recipient of the team’s Outstanding Underclass Back Award (offense) . . . led all rushers with 73 yards on 22 carries, including the game-winning 1-yard TD run on third-and-goal with 27 seconds remaining, vs. No. 4 Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game; had 14 carries for 40 yards during MSU’s game-winning 22-play, 82-yard drive, including three third-down conversions . . . carried the ball 11 times for 41 yards, including a 6-yard TD run in the fourth quarter, in the victory over Penn State . . . rushed 13 times for 58 yards in the win at No. 2 Ohio State; had 50 yards on 10 carries in the fourth quarter . . . led team with 11 carries for 68 yards, including a 26-yard TD run in the fourth quarter, vs. Indiana . . . scored two rushing touchdowns at Michigan (11 yards in second quarter; 1 yard in fourth quarter) in his first career start . . . sat out the first half (knee) at Rutgers, but returned to action in the second half and rushed for 42 yards on nine carries, including two touchdowns (1 yard, 3 yards) . . . his 3-yard TD at Rutgers with 43 seconds remaining proved to be the game-winning score in the 31-24 win . . . named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after rushing for 146 yards – the most by a Spartan freshman since Javon Ringer in 2005 – and two touchdowns on 18 carries (8.1 avg.) against Purdue . . . ran for 54 yards on eight carries (6.8 avg.), including a 29-yard rush, vs. Central Michigan . . . collected 76 yards on 11 carries (6.9 avg.) in the win over No. 7 Oregon; scored the first two rushing TDs of his career on a 6-yard run in the third quarter and a 38-yard scamper in the fourth quarter that made it 31-21 Spartans in the eventual 31-28 win against the Ducks . . . named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his performance against Oregon . . . led the Spartans with 77 rushing yards on 13 attempts (5.9 avg.) in his collegiate debut at Western Michigan.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Ranked among the nation’s top overall prospects by Scout.com (No. 65), 247Sports.com (No. 78) and ESPN.com (No. 93) . . . rated among the country’s top running backs by ESPN.com (No. 7), 247Sports.com (No. 7) and Scout.com (No. 8) . . . listed among the Midwest’s top prospects by ESPN.com (No. 6) . . . ranked among Ohio’s top seniors by Scout.com (No. 2), ESPN.com (No. 4) and 247Sports.com (No. 4) . . . named a finalist for Ohio’s Mr. Football award, presented by The Associated Press . . . selected AP Division III Co-Offensive Player of the Year, AP Division III Northeast Inland All-District Offensive Player of the Year and Trumbull County Player of the Year as a senior . . . four-year starter for Coach Brian Hoffman at Hubbard (Ohio) High School . . . rushed 295 times for a school single-season record 2,819 yards (9.6 yards per carry; 216.8 yards per game) and 38 touchdowns in 2014 . . . accounted for a career-best 3,149 all-purpose yards as a senior . . . recorded 13 100-yard games in 2014, including eight 200-yard efforts . . . also contributed 38 tackles (23 solos, 15 assists), including five for losses, five interceptions and four pass break-ups as a senior . . . closed out his senior season with four-straight 200-yard games (943 rushing yards and 10 TDs), averaging 235.8 ypg. down the stretch . . . rushed for 208 yards and two scores plus produced a season-high seven tackles, including one for a loss, in the state quarterfinals vs. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary . . . carried 22 times for 286 yards and four TDs vs. Tallmadge . . . ran 14 times for a season-high 291 yards (20.8 avg.) and three scores vs. McKinley . . . gained 278 yards on 27 attempts and scored four TDs vs. Poland Seminary . . . produced four rushing TDs vs. Kenmore (15 carries for 156 yards) . . . picked up 248 yards on 23 carries and scored four TDs in the 2014 season opener vs. Lakeview . . . rushed 218 times for 1,867 yards (8.6 avg.) and 24 TDs as a junior . . . compiled nine 100-yard rushing games in 2013, including three 200-yard outings . . . ran 21 times for a career-best 355 yards and three scores vs. Northwest . . . also produced a career-high 410 all-purpose yards vs. Northwest (355 rushing, 10 kickoff returns, 19 punt returns and 26 interception returns) . . . posted the first 300-yard rushing game of his career in the 2013 season opener vs. Lakeview (24 carries for 326 yards and four TDs) . . . carried 168 times for 1,614 yards (9.6 avg.) and 23 TDs as a sophomore . . . had eight 100-yard rushing games in 2012, including four 200-yard efforts . . . accounted for a season-high 368 all-purpose yards in the second meeting of the season vs. McKinley (203 rushing, 70 kickoff returns, 35 punt returns and 60 interception returns) . . . ran 19 times for 233 yards and five TDs vs. Canfield . . . posted a season-high eight tackles, including one for a loss, and an interception in the first meeting of the 2012 season vs. McKinley . . . scored three rushing TDs vs. Girard, including a 91-yard gallop . . . gained 201 yards on just five carries (40.2 avg.) and scored five rushing TDs (career-best six TDs total) in the 2012 season opener vs. Collinwood . . . burst onto the scene as a freshman, rushing for 1,176 yards (132 carries; 8.9 avg.) and 13 TDs . . . delivered seven 100-yard rushing games in 2011, including the last three in a row (492 rushing yards; 164.0 ypg. and eight rushing TDs during the three-game stretch) . . . rushed 22 times for a season-high 196 yards and five scores vs. Liberty . . . set Mahoning Valley and Eagle career rushing records with 7,476 yards (813 carries; 9.2 avg.; 162.5 ypg.; 98 TDs) . . . eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in 37 of 46 career games, including 15 200-yard efforts . . . had 48 career receptions for 660 yards (13.8 avg.) and three TDs . . . accounted for 9,196 career all-purpose yards (199.9 ypg.) and 104 total TDs . . . returned 35 career kickoffs for 644 yards (18.4 avg.; long 70) . . . returned 16 career punts for 295 yards (18.4 avg.; long 80) . . . his career defensive totals include 108 tackles (74 solos, 34 assists), with 18 resulting in losses including 5.5 sacks, 10 interceptions (121 return yards), 12 pass break-ups and two blocked field goals . . . attended the same high school that produced Michigan State 2014 All-American and Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year Kurtis Drummond . . . son of Lachelle Steele . . . born Sept. 15, 1996 . . . sociology major.

Scott is a tough, productive workhorse type running back. He possesses great size and displays deceptive speed. Eyeing up his tape, Scott reveals a ton of positive traits to get NFL scouting departments excited.

He shows excellent leg drive and forward lean. Time and time again you witness a running back that appears to despise being tackled. He can punish would be tacklers or make you miss, which is pretty special at 6-foot-1 and 229 pounds.

Scott does not receive the same hype at this point in the NFL Draft process but after another strong season at Michigan State he should propel him in the realm of the bigger names in the game.