Bryan Scott is headed to the XFL, as a video released by famous quarterback coach Jordan Palmer on his Instagram revealed last week. While the team that he will be signing with is yet to be determined, he is expected to enter the 2023 XFL season at the helm of one of the eight teams announced two months ago.
Coming off of a season ending injury sustained during the 2022 USFL season, Scott was on pace to lead the USFL in every passing statistic, head and shoulders above everyone in the league. Had he stayed healthy, there is little doubt that he would have gathered his third professional league most valuable player award, as he is a two-time MVP in The Spring League, the league base from which the USFL was formed.
Bryan Scott
HT: 6’2″
WT: 220 lbs
High School: Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates, CA)
College: Occidental
Record as Professional Starter: 8-1
Accolades: 2016 SCIAC Player of the Year; 2018 The Spring League MVP; 2020 The Spring League MVP.
The Career of Bryan Scott
Bryan Scott didn’t plan on a career in football as a teenager. Instead, his concern was becoming the starting quarterback at Palos Verdes High, a goal he accomplished as a senior. The team didn’t just have a good season, they won their first Bay League title in almost 50 years.
His performance led him to a local all-star performance, which caught the attention of Occidental College coaches, and invited Scott to play for their school. He took up the opportunity and got his chance to play in just his third game, when an injury forced him into action. He never looked back, setting every school and conference record for season and career passing yards and touchdowns. It was there that he earned the nickname, “the Aaron Rodgers of Division III.”
Scott received some attention from the NFL and CFL following his senior year in 2017, signing with the BC Lions for about two weeks before his release, and then doing a workout with the Los Angeles Rams. In 2018, he ended up in the inaugural season of The Spring League under head coach Bart Andrus. In that season, he was awarded Player of the Game in two games and the most valuable player award, including a game where he out-dueled Heisman Trophy Winner Johnny Manziel.
The performance earned him a couple more camp invites, this time with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Atlanta Falcons, and then signed a futures contract with the Edmonton Eskimos in October, 2019.
Bryan Scott’s dominance in alt-league action
COVID struck and turned the world upside down, and the 2020 CFL season was canceled. Scott opted out of his contract and entered The Spring League draft, being selected by head coach Bart Andrus to compete with former NFL quarterback Zach Mettenberger.
Not only did he candidly beat Mettenberger for the job, Scott led the USFL’s Generals to a 4-0 record and league title, winning the 2020 season MVP as well as the championship game MVP. He became the only TSL quarterback to throw for 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns in a single season.
After another quiet offseason, Scott returned to the gridiron for the 2022 season of the USFL, under Bart Andrus again. This time, Scott had his coaches complete trust. In the first three games, he didn’t disappoint, completing 70.6% of his passes, passing for 558 yards and 5 touchdowns, while running for another, all passing marks leading the league. However, he sustained a knee and ankle injury that ended his season before it really began.
What he brings to the football field
On the field, Bryan Scott plays with purpose and passion. He has a good arm, suitable for a west coast offense, and processes information very well. He has a solid base, good lower body mechanics, and a quick release that stands out on tape. My favorite thing about his game is his processing ability – he gets through reads quickly and uses his eyes to manipulate and move defenders.
Scott also athletic enough to improvise and extend plays with his feet, moving outside of the pocket and making plays while on the move. He is athletic enough to get downhill and scramble when he has space, and can gash a defense for substantial gains.
Those who know Scott, and have worked with him, have often wondered publicly how he hasn’t gotten a legitimate shot at the NFL yet. His passion for the game is evident with every snap that he takes. He’s won at every level he has played – High school, college, a world championship with Team USA, and professional football in the Spring League. With all of the demands and needs for the position in the NFL, why haven’t they given him a chance yet?
The XFL will hopefully be the launching platform, having put their star quarterback, PJ Walker, on the Carolina Panthers roster for the last couple of years where he has started several games – and is expected to start this very week.
Scott could very well be the next one to make a career at the next level.
