South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp announced Tuesday that John Scott Jr. has been named as the defensive line coach for the Gamecocks starting in the 2019 football season.
Muschamp was impressed with Scott during the interview process and saw where he would be a good fit for the once vacant position.
“He is very detailed-oriented and what I would call a ‘grinder,’” Muschamp said in a press release. “He also has an NFL background and has experience coaching elite players, something that was very important to me.”
Scott has had a track record of coaching elite NFL defenses. He began with the New York Jets as a defensive quality control coach in 2015 and was promoted to defensive line assistant coach in 2016 for his second and last season in New York.
During his time with the Jets, Scott’s defense led the NFL in red zone defense and in rushing touchdowns allowed. The Jets also finished second in rushing defensive and fourth in total defense that year. Two players from the top-rated 2015 Jets defense earned Pro Bowl honors as well.
Once Scott was promoted to defensive line coach in 2016, the Jets finished fifth in the AFC in both rushing touchdowns allowed and in rush defense, while defensive tackle Leonard Williams received a Pro Bowl bid.
Even with his NFL experience, this is not Scott’s first time coaching college football. Prior to being hired by Muschamp, Scott spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons at SEC foe Arkansas, where he was the defensive tackles coach.
When he was at Texas Tech, Scott coached a handful of players who received both All-Big 12 honors, as well as invites to the NFL Combine.
While at Georgia Southern from 2010-2012, Scott was the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator. All three of those teams advanced to the semifinal around of the FCS Playoffs. One of his most notable players during this time was Brent Russell, who finished as the all-time sack leader at Georgia Southern and was a three-time All-American player.
Scott has also been a defensive coach at Missouri State, Norfolk and his alma mater, Western Carolina.